Everything's An Argument Chapter 1: Understanding Arguments Flashcards
What two reasons did Aristotle say students needed to learn the arts of rhetoric for?
to get their ideas across effectively and to protect themselves from being manipulated by others
What is propaganda?
an argument advancing a point of view without regard to reason, fairness, or truth
What is reading vertically?
within the site itself, examining elements such as the name of authors, the bibliography, even official logos, and other visual elements to test their soundness and authenticity
What is lateral reading?
the process of validating a text by checking what other sources–typically online–say about it.
What adage, said by Ronald Reagan, applies to lateral reading?
verify, then trust
What are 6 ways to defend against misrepresentation in what you read?
Pay attention, be wary of “click bait”, look for any unstated assumption behind claims, distinguish between verified facts and unproven claims, learn to triangulate, become a fact-checker!
What is an assumption?
a belief regarded as true, upon which other claims are based
What does it mean to triangulate when reading?
to look for corroboration from other reliable sources by reading laterally
Who recommends a “stance of openness”
Krista Ratcliffe
What is a “stance of openness”
a stance of listening rhetorically that you can take in relation to any person, text, or culture.
What is a stance?
the writer’s attitude toward the topic and the audience
What are filter bubbles
Echo chambers created by media algorithms that feed us what we prefer to read
What are “others”
those who differ in opinion or experience from our own
What is an audience?
the person or persons to whom an argument is directed
What are arguments to convince
arguments that lead an audience to accept a claim as true or reasonable–based on factual and reliable evidence
What are arguments to persuade?
arguments that seek to move people from conviction to action
What are arguments to make decisions?
arguments about determining the best options in a given situation, whether political or personal–from managing out-of-control deficits to choosing majors or careers
What are invitational arguments?
a term used by Sonja Foss and Cindy Griffin to describe arguments that are aimed not at vanquishing an opponent but at inviting others to collaborate in exploring mutually satisfying ways to solve problems
What is a Rogerian argument?
an approach to argumentation based on the principle, articulated by psychotherapist Carl Rogers, that audiences respond best when they don’t feel threatened. Rogerian argument stresses trust and urges those who disagree to find common ground
What is rhetoric?
the art of persuasion. Western rhetoric originated in Ancient Greece as a discipline to prepare citizens for arguing cases in court.
What are Aristotle’s occasions for argument?
arguments that are concerned with the past, future, or present
What are forensic arguments?
an argument that deals with actions that have occurred in the past. Sometimes called judicial arguments, forensic arguments include legal cases involving judgements of guilt or innocence
What are deliberative arguments?
an argument that deals with action to be taken in the future, focusing on matters of policy. Deliberative arguments include parliamentary debates and campaign platforms.
What are epideictic or ceremonial arguments?
an argument that deals with current values and addresses questions of praise and blame. Also called epideictic, ceremonial arguments include eulogies and graduation speeches.
