class 8: techniques of persuasion

Question 1

rival explanations

Answer 1

evidence found contradicts claim

it is often left out

Question 2

rhetoric

Answer 2

the true language of persuasion

Question 3

thinking about audience

Answer 3

how much do the readers already know?

how familiar to the evidence might they be?

what might be their values?

the more you think about the audience, the stronger the argument can be built

Question 4

What is brainstorming?

Answer 4

first step of writing persuasively

put yourself in shoes of the audience

thinking how they could object to your ideas

necessary to provide convincing answer to these objections and show that you have considered the issue fully

Question 5

what are the common types of objections that you can encounter?

Answer 5

readers are aware of the negative evidence
that refutes your argument

readers can come up with alternative causal explanations that are consistent with your evidence

readers disagree with your values preferences or reality assumptions

Question 6

negative evidence

Answer 6

evidence contradicting your argument

explaining how these shouldn’t affect your claim shows that you have given it consideration

Question 7

rival causes

Answer 7

if claim you are proposing is a causal claim, then there are high chances there are rival causes

if you know them, don’t stay quiet about them

Question 8

what must you do about debatable assumptions?

Answer 8

must anticipate challenges to your assumptions

must provide explicit data to your reality assumptions

must show that your values are worth serious consideration

Question 9

how to limit claims when you have now rebuttal

Answer 9

must concede point you cannot refute

limiting your generalization

assessment that the level of probability of your claim is less than 100%

a refinement or redefining of your terms

acknowledging limitations makes your writing more persuasive

Question 10

why do we study rhetoric

Answer 10

to understand how authors and and speakers convince their audience

Question 11

what are the rules of rhetoric

Answer 11

1. detail: evidence and assumption
2. tone: scholarly versus narrative
3. vividness: being concrete

Question 12

being complete and detailed (1)

Answer 12

full and clear detail because most of the evidence will be new to the reader

make links with their own experiences

Question 13

using appropriate tone (2)

Answer 13

scholarly, narrative or formal

Question 14

being vivid (3)

Answer 14

being concrete