convince readers that your opinion/stance on a controversial issue is sound and often urges readers to commit themselves to your side of the topic. An Argumentation Essay An argumentative essay will utilize statistics, report findings, and expert opinion to demonstrate/support your stance on the subject. You will want to incorporate the opposition to your topic into the essay and work on refuting their claims and dissenting views. Refutation means pointing out the problems with the opposing viewpoints, thereby highlighting your own positions superiority. Greek Basic Concepts of Logic: LOGOS Logosthe soundness of your argument: the facts, statistics, examples, and authoritative statements you gather to support your viewpoint. This supporting evidence must be unified, specific, adequate, accurate, and representative. Greek Basic Concepts of Logic: PATHOS Pathosthe emotional power of language: appeals to readers needs, values, and attitudes, encouraging them to commit themselves to a viewpoint or course of action. Connotative languagewords with strong emotional overtonescan move readers to accept a point of view and may even spur them to act. Greek Concepts of Logic: ETHOS Ethosthe credibility and integrity of the argument: you cannot expect readers to accept or act on your viewpoint unless you convince them that you know what youre talking about. Come across as knowledgeable and trustworthy by incorporating logos and taking the opposing views into account. Writing an Effective Argumentation- Persuasion Essay Evidence/Support can be found in many ways: Statistics from a report Fact from a newspaper article Personal observation Examples from an interview Expert opinion cited in a documentary Evaluate Your Sources For each source, you should establish the credibility of the material or person being cited. After each quote, you need to explain the material to the reader and then provide a response. By providing a response to the sourced material, you are integrating the support into your argument.
Mary Sherry, owner and founder of a research and publishing firm,
finds that many writers who aim to publish their work are inadequately suffering from grammar amnesia and are deluded by a desire to be famous (515). By this, I believe she means that many of the writers today have overlooked the importance of grammar and punctuation and simply want to be recognized. This supports my stance that many writing students today. . . Inductive Reasoning Involves examination of specific cases, facts, or examples. Based on these specifics, you then draw a conclusion or make a generalization. Evidence: My head is aching Evidence: My nose is stuffy Evidence: My throat is scratchy Conclusion: I am coming down with a cold. Deductive Reasoning Begins with a generalization that is then applied to a specific case This movement from general to specific involves a three-step form of reasoning called a syllogism: 1)Major Premise 2)Minor Premise 3)Conclusion Example of Syllogism Major Premise: In an accident, large cars are safer than small cars
Minor Premise: The Hummer is a large car.
Conclusion: In an accident, the Hummer will
be safer than a small car. Logical Fallacies Hasty Generalization Sweeping Generalization Post Hoc Fallacy (after this, therefore because of this) Non Sequitor Fallacy (it does not follow) Ad Hominen Argument (to the man) Appeals to Questionable or Faulty Authority Begging the Question A False Analogy Either/or Fallacy Red Herring Fallacy Appeal to Readers Fear or Pity Hasty Generalizations Hasty Generalization: making a claim on the basis of inadequate evidence. Example: It is disturbing that several of the youths who shot up schools were users of violent video games. Obviously, these games can breed violence, and they should be banned. [Most youths who play violent video games do not behave violently.] Sweeping Generalization Absolute statements involving words such as all, always, never, and no one that allow no exceptions. Examples: People who live in cities are unfriendly. Californians are fad-crazy Women are emotional Men cant express their feelings [These are often considered stereoptypes] Post Hoc Fallacy Occurs when you conclude that a cause-effect relationship exists simply because one even preceded another. Example: A number of immigrants settle in a nearby city. The city suffers an economic decline. The immigrants arrival caused the decline. [This is simply co-occurrence. There are most likely other reasons for the decline.] Non-Sequitor Linking two or more ideas that in fact have no logical connection. Example: She uses a wheelchair, so she must be unhappy.
[The second clause has nothing to do with the
first.] Ad Hominem Attacking the qualities of the people holding an opposing view rather than the view itself. Example: Bill Clinton had extramarital affairs, so his views on global policy merit no attention.
[Do the ex-presidents marital problems
invalidate his political views?] Appeals to Questionable or Faulty Authority Occurs when the argument fails to provide the credibility of the sourced material. Examples: Sources show An unidentified spokesperson states Experts claim Studies show
[If these people and reports are so reliable, they
should be clearly identified.] Begging the Question Involves failure to establish proof for a debatable point. Example: The college librarys funding should be reduced by cutting subscriptions to useless periodicals.
[Are some of the librarys periodicals useless?]
False Analogy Implies that because two things share some characteristics, they are therefore alike in all respects. Example: Nicotine and marijuana involve health risks and have addictive properties. Driving while smoking a cigarette isnt illegal, so driving while smoking marijuana shouldnt be illegal.
[By making this argument, you have overlooked a major
difference between these two substances. Marijuana impairs perception and coordinationimportant aspects of drivingwhile theres no evidence that nicotine does the same.] Either/or Fallacy Assuming that a complicated question has only two answers, one good and one bad, or both bad. Example: Either we permit mandatory drug testing in the workplace or productivity will continue to decline.
[Productivity is not necessarily dependent on
drug testing.] Red Herring Introducing an irrelevant issue intended to distract readers from the relevant issues Example: A campus speech code is essential to protect students, who already have enough problems coping with rising tuition.
[Tuition costs and speech codes are different
subjects. What protections do students need that a speech code will provide?] Appeal to Readers Fear or Pity Substituting emotions for reasoning Example: She should not have to pay taxes because she is an aged widow with no friends or relatives.
[Appeals to peoples pity. Should age and
loneliness, rather than income, determine a persons tax obligation.]
An Ethical Approach to Ending Recidivism: The Optimal Guide to Moral Practice and Effective Communication with Inmates in the Department of Corrections
(Ancient commentators on Aristotle) Alexander, of Aphrodisias._ Aristotle._ Mueller, Ian - Alexander of Aphrodisias_ On Aristotle _Prior Analytics 1.32-46__ On Aristotle _Prior Analytics 1.32-46_-Bris.pdf