Objectives
- Become conversant with terms and concepts of argumentation
- Learn to identify strengths and weaknesses in arguments
- Learn to write an effective claim
Resources
- Dodds, Jack. "Argument and Persuasion." The
Ready Reference Handbook. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000. 393-410.
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Overview of
Argument." Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. Boston:
Allyn and Bacon, 1998. 1-77.
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Principles of
Argument." Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. Boston:
Allyn and Bacon, 1998. 79-188.
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Logical Fallacies."
Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. Boston: Allyn and Bacon,
1998. 421-434.
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Definition Arguments."
Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. Boston: Allyn and Bacon,
1998. 198-227.
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. "Causal Arguments."
Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. Boston: Allyn and Bacon,
1998. 228-263.
Claims
The following definitions have been adapted from The
Craft of Research, by Joseph Williams, George Colomb, and Wayne Booth.
Claim: sometimes known as a
thesis statement, a claim is a statement that offers an interpretation of
facts. A strong argumentative claim is substantial, contestable, precise,
and clear. Example: The popular music of the 1990s reflects the widespread
apathy, despair, and malaise of American teenagers.
Substance: the amount of meaning
and interest in a claim. To test your claim for substance, ask yourself,
"Who cares?" or "What difference does it make?" Example
of an insubstantial claim: The students at UNC-Pembroke have a lot of
school spirit. Example of a substantial claim: The strong sense of
community at UNC-Pembroke, evident in students' commitment to campus functions
and organizations, challenges the prevailing characterization of Generation
X as apathetic, confused, and lazy.
Contestability: the degree
to which a claim is open to argument. Example of an uncontestable claim:
Domestic terrorism is on the rise. Example of a contestable claim:
The rise of domestic terrorism reflects a growing disillusionment with American
institutions.
Precision: the degree of specificity
in a claim. Example of an imprecise claim: Some people have a distorted
view of Asian Americans. Example of a precise claim: Stereotypical
characterizations in movies and television shows in the last decade have
given many Americans a distorted impression of Asian-Americans as bookish,
overly serious workaholics.
Clarity: the effectiveness
of a claim in communicating a particular interpretation. Example of an
unclear claim: The rise of the computer has implemented a dramatic effect.
Example of a clear claim: The dramatic increase in the use of computers
in business, where they have replaced many unskilled workers, has increased
the importance of a college education for people who wish to obtain secure,
high-paying jobs. |
Terms
- ad hominem
- argument
- begging the question
- claim
- convention
- deduction
- ethos
- evidence
- false dilemma
- induction
- logical fallacy
- logos
- pathos
- post hoc
- qualifier
- rebuttal
- red herring
- rhetoric
- warrant
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