(ENG4U1AP) Argumentative Strategies Flashcards
Define:
Appeal to Authority
Relies on experts to produce an objective analysis on a given idea, situation, or product
Are the “authorities” in Appeal to Authority real?
Often times, they are not real (they are actors)
Define:
Argument by Consequence
Logical form of argumentation that involves the “if…then…therefore” structure
Define:
Appeal to Morality
Appeals to people’s sense of right and wrong
What form does “appeal to morality” use?
Employs a concept/plan form
What form of emotion/subjectivity does “appeal to morality” use?
ETHOS
How is “appeal to morality” different from “appeal to emotion”?
Unlike “appeal to emotion”, “appeal to morality” uses a concept or plan
Define:
Appeal to Common Belief/Prejudice
Generally involves using a widely held bias or prejudice to support and argument (e.x. “Everyone knows that”)
Give an example of a widely held bias/prejudice
Various concepts used by politicians
Why are common beliefs/prejudices used?
Using this causes a build-up of social pressure
Define:
Argument from Ignorance
Appeals to hypothetical situations where it’s impossible to know the outcome since no trials have been attempted
What does a “argument from ignorance” argue?
It argues that we should give the idea/policy/plan a chance before presuming that it will fail (“We don’t know what will happen…”)
Define:
Argument by Definition
Using definition(s) to create terms/parameters of the debate (anchors a definition, using it as the theoretical foundation upon which all else will be measured)
Define:
Appeal to Emotion
Uses arguments that tug at the heart strings or generate strong emotional responses (“Who do we feel bad for?”)
Define:
Use of Anecdote
Uses various statistics (figures, charts, graphs, percentages, poll results etc.) to convince reader
Why are statistics often used?
Statistics are often used to issue proof that’s meant to be received as “absolute” and “empirical”
True or False:
Statistics cannot be manipulated
False, statistics can be manipulated to achieve a desired result
Define:
Use of Anecdote
Uses a personal story or experience to support a point of view; frequently used at beginning of essays/arguments
Define:
Argument by Example
Providing an example in order to create a precedent or illustrate a point (draws conclusions from a point to apply it to its own situation)
Define:
Argument ad Hominem
Strategy of abuse, involves maligning an individual and is useful in appealing to emotional people who already have a strong dislike for a particular idea
What does “ad Hominem” mean?
“At the man”
Define:
Argument by Analogy
Involves drawing multiple parallels, between two examples for the purpose of explanation or classification
State the argumentative strategy:
“Wayne Gretzky on Canadian Sovereignty: as a famous hockey player, Gretzky, is not in a position to provide expert commentary on politics”
Appeal to Authority
State the argumentative strategy:
“Everyone knows that politicians are corrupt, always on the take, always expecting a kick-back”
Appeal to Common Belief
State the argumentative strategy:
“When innocent children, tiny, helpless infants, are allowed to suffer for 12 hours before receiving treatment at one of our city’s major hospitals, we know that there is something seriously wrong with out city’s medical services”
Appeal to Emotion
State the argumentative strategy:
“It is wrong to kill. Executing a murderer does not redress a wrong but constitutes committing the same sin twice”
Appeal to Morality
State the argumentative strategy:
“That most despicable of 20th century tyrants, a vicious, petty little man who surrounded himself with craven, fawning underlings, Hitler was responsible for the greatest mass murder of the last 100 years”
Argument ad Hominem
State the argumentative strategy:
“Just as the dog which is teased grows vicious, so the child who is taunted grows cruel”
Argument by Analogy
State the argumentative strategy:
“If students make rough outlines for their writing, they will organize their ideas more carefully and produce better essays”
Argument by Consequence
State the argumentative strategy:
“A fetus is defined as ‘a young human that has developed within its mother’s body.’ As such, it may be held that ‘development’ occurs from the moment of conception. As a living creature with the potential to become a productive human being, the act of destroying a fetus is akin to murder”
Argument by Definition
State the argumentative strategy:
“Jane’s mother lets her stay out all night. I should be allowed to stay out all night”
Argument by Example
State the argumentative strategy:
“If we are to create peace on earth, we must get rid of all weapons. If every nation did this, then we would all be on equal footing and nations would not feel threatened: then peace could happen”
Argument from Ignorance
State the argumentative strategy:
“Since medical expenses have increased by 4% annually since 1999, and federal funding for medical care has decreased approximately 2% annually between the years 1997 and 1997, Ontario has clearly suffered a funding crunch that desperately needs to be remedied”
Use of Statistics
State the argumentative strategy:
“Elizabeth Leighton, the summer she worked for a family in Southern Ontario, was never called by her name but was always referred to as “the hired girl”. Stung by this label, which she felt denied her fundamental individuality and value as a human being, she determined that she would work for the rest of her life to support the rights of the working class”
Use of Anecdote
