Rhetoric, Argument and Persuasion

Recall an ArgumentRecall an argument that you’ve had lately.

Describe the circumstances leading to it. Now draw two columns; on one side, list your points, and on the other side, list the other side’s points. Evaluate the strengths and weakness of the argument.

Staking your claimStake your claim in

the form of a thesis statement at the end of your introduction.

Make sure that your claim is arguable

Must have a competing viewpoint

Must have an ethical component

Can’t be based on purely subjective standards

Specific, Interesting and Manageable Claims

Specific ClaimStates clearly and precisely what you will be

arguing.

Vague:

Parents of children who play hockey would like to have violence eliminated at all levels of the game.

Specific:

Fighting should be prohibited in hockey, since violence gives young hockey players a negative model and reinforces a win at all costs mentality.

InterestingMust have a

specific audience in mind.

ManageableDetermined by

specificity and interest; availability of sources and complexity of argument---nature of assignment.

Define hard evidence and provide examples

Facts

Statistics

Authorities

Experts

Define soft evidence and provide examples

Anecdotes

Examples

Illustrations

Case studies

Precedent

Personal experience

Analogies

Description

Hypothesis

Unproved assumption and is not the same as fact

Analogy

A comparison to help your reader relate to or understand the point you are making.

Refuting the opposing view

Acknowledgment

Point-by-point refutation