Introduction to Argument

· An argument is a form of discourse

· in which the writer or speaker tries to persuade an audience

· to accept, reject, or think a certain way

· about a problem that cannot be solved by scientific or mathematical reasoning alone.

and

· An argument is a form of discourse

· in which the writer or speaker presents a pattern of reasoning,

· reinforced by detailed evidence and refutation of challenging claims,

· that tries to persuade the audience to accept the claim.

Argumentative writing uses two types of evidence:

indisputable (factual) and disputable.

To reinforce evidence, the writer or speaker uses appeals.

In his Rhetoric, Aristotle identifies three kinds of appeals:

· Ethical—the appeal to tradition, authority, ethical and moral behavior (ethos)

· Emotional—the appeal to feelings and basic human needs such as security, love, belonging, health and well-being (pathos)

· Rational—the appeal to reason and logic (logos)

Four major elements shape communication:

· Purpose

· Audience

· Writer

· Subject

Instead of thinking of yourself as a student in a composition course, think of yourself as an expert in the field you are writing about—one who genuinely cares about the topics at hand enough to want your audience to understand them and appreciate them the way you do.

The classical model of argument:

· begins with an introduction that establishes the problem and states the thesis

· analyzes the evidence and refutes opposing views in light of the evidence collected

· draws conclusions and provides recommendations

When using the classical model, first consider:

· What is my reason for writing the paper?

· What is the best way to introduce the problem, given my evidence and audience?

· What definitions of concepts or explanations will my reader require?

· What exactly is my position on the matter?

· How will my readers most likely react? Indifferently? Skeptically? Enthusiastically? How can I deal with their reaction in advance?

Source: The Well-Crafted Argument
Fred D. White
Simone J. Billings
Houghton Mifflin 2002