WEEK 8 - BUILDING ARGUMENTS

Question 1

This course teaches two skills, what are they:

Answer 1

1. Writing
2. Soft or life skills

Question 2

What is needed to write persuasively?

Answer 2

1. Identify the possible objections and address them
2. Make it clear what you are asking for and what decision you want them to make
3. Do not lie
4. Remember to consider any cultural issues and appeal to common goals and values

Question 3

In identifying the possible objections and addressing them, what should you do?

Answer 3

Cite experts who support you and offer convincing evidence and statistics.

Question 4

What do you need to do to get your point across?

Answer 4

1. Speak well
2. Have a well thought out argument

Question 5

What is the difference between a quarrel and argumentation?

Answer 5

Quarrel = anger
Argument = debate/discussion

Question 6

An argument must include what four things?

Answer 6

1. Summary / Assertion
2. Context / Reason
3. Details / Evidence
4. Conclusion / Impact

Question 7

When are the three times you will use this skill?

Answer 7

1. When you explain why you made a particular choice/decision.
2. When you are presenting your point of view
3. Writing persuasively (reports, emails and presentations)

Question 8

Structure for an argument

Answer 8

Introduction, body and conclusion

Question 9

What does the introduction include?

Answer 9

A universal statement to grab attention, general statement to elaborate, linking statement – intro thesis and finally, the thesis/hypothesis.

Question 10

What does the body include?

Answer 10

Topic Introduction, paragraph thesis point, arguments (proof), linking (to next argument or to the conclusion)

Question 11

What does the conclusion include?

Answer 11

Re-state thesis, exiting general statement, exiting universal statement

Question 12

What does the essential point need?

Answer 12

The essential point requires one to (1) begin with a Clear statement of what you want your audience to do
and (2) end with a clear statement of the action or change you expect.

Question 13

Classical argumentation has four main components, what are they?

Answer 13

A.R.E.

Assertion - the claim
Reason - prove the assertion and strong reasoning
Evidence - data to support the reason

Impact - the importance

Question 14

Classical rhetoric is composed of three things, what are they?

Answer 14

Logos, Ethos and Pathos.

Question 15

What is Logos?

Answer 15

Appeals to logic
- Using statistics, data and/or scientific method

Question 16

What is Ethos?

Answer 16

Appeals to authority
- Use an author / expert to help prove the claim

Question 17

What is Pathos?

Answer 17

Appeals to emotion
- Uses emotion to prove the claim / convince people

Question 18

What is the Toulmin method?

Answer 18

Takes Classical argument to a new level of detail with 6 components within.

the Argument Grounds
1. Assertion
2. Reason
3. Evidence
4. Backing – additional info (like common knowledge)
5. Qualifier – where the assertion could be false (boundary)
6. Rebuttal – address the opposing view

Question 19

What is the Rogerian method?

Answer 19

• Makes classical argument more open ended
• Usually has 3 elements
  1. Opposing position & it’s grounds (positioned as the readers position)
  2. Your position & argument grounds
  3. Compromising grounds between the arguments

Question 20

What should the introduction content include?

Answer 20

Clear statement of your premise and a high level list of the arguments

Question 21

What should the conclusion include?

Answer 21

Re-iterate your premise and a summarized list of the arguments

Question 22

What should the argument include? (AREI)

Answer 22

A clear statement of your argument

Question 23

What should the reason include? (AREI)

Answer 23

How / why your argument is true

Question 24

What should the evidence include? (AREI)

Answer 24

Clear evidence supporting your reason

Question 25

What should the impact include? (AREI)

Answer 25

Why the audience should care

Question 26

What should the background include?

Answer 26

Common knowledge

Question 27

What should the qualifier include

Answer 27

Where the assertion could be false/the exception.

Question 28

What the rebuttal should include

Answer 28

The opposing view.

Question 29

What is the best way to use the keyhole essay technique?

Answer 29

Informative/Comparative/Persuasive; Basically arguing a purpose to the audience/reader.

Question 30

The keyhole essay is broken into three parts, what are they?

Answer 30

1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion

Question 31

The introduction consists of three sections that include:

Answer 31

1. Universal Statement - A statement to catch the attention of the reader to entice them to continue reading/listening.
2. General Statement - A statement to help bring the reader into your ‘story argument’.
3. Linking Statement - A statement (or part of another) that helps introduce your ‘thesis list’.
4. Thesis Statement - Provides a hypothesis statement to encompass the three body arguments into a short sentence.

Question 32

The body usually consists of 3 sections:

Answer 32

1. The Topic Introduction - very much like the general statement from the Introduction section.
2. Paragraph Thesis Point - This sentence is usually the beginning of your point of the argument.
3. Your Argument Ground(s) - Along with each quote, paraphrase, and/or summarization there will need to be a description that you provided to it’s importance of your argument for this subsection. There needs to be at least one for each paragraph, and it is recommended to have 3 body paragraphs.
4. Linking Statement - Used to help continue the ‘story’ of your argument and ease flow from one argument ground to the next and/or the conclusion.

Question 33

The conclusion is composed of:

Answer 33

1. Restate your thesis - this will help signal the end of your essay.
2. Exiting General Statement - this does not need to be related to the Introduction’s General Statement.
3. Exiting Universal Statement - this does not need to be related to the Introduction’s Universal Statement. Often will indirectly be asking the audience to do something about your chosen topic.