Chapter 5: Building an Argument-Claims and Support

chapter 5

Building an Argument-Claims and Support (131-153)

index

1. Brainstorming Activity-Table Gallery

2. What Is an Arguable Claim?

3. Different Kinds of Argument

4-7. Understanding & Avoiding Fallacies of Rhetorical Appeals

8. Steps to Develop an Effective Argument

9. Things to Remember

1. Table gallery- 15 minutes

In groups of 3, think of three important takeaways from Chapter 5. With provided markers, write on a large sticky note and place it on one of the tables in the room. When you're done, walk around the room and add constructive comments to the sticky notes other students provided about the chapter.

First, arguments begin with claims (assertions), then follow with support to that claim. Effective (and arguable) claims invite response(s) from others--agreement, disagreement, or both. The Difference Between Factual Statement and Arguable Claim: Factual Statements invite litle to no response from others, while Arguable Claims invite agreement, discussion, disagreement, and evidence.

2. what is an arguable claim?

"An argument can begin with strong feelings, but if it begins and ends with emotion it [can] devolve quickly into a tirade" (133).

Different Kinds of Arguments

Personal testimony/response works best in conversation; use experience to back your argument but remember you are not the only audience in the situation.

On the other hand, arguments with facts (and no personal counterpart) can easily fall short if you are looking to make connections to an argument, claim, or person.

Emotional arguments need tangible evidence and attention to audience to work successfully.

Fallacy: an internal flaw or argument. "Fallacies can derail an argument...Many begin with an abuse of rhetorical appeals [or not recognizing approrpaite audience, genre, and context of a situation" (135, addition mine). Example Fallacies

• Begging the Question: When you repeat an unsupported claim.

• Overgeneralization: Giving base information without support/evidence.

• Red Herring: Words/evidence intended to mislead others in argument or conversation.

4. understanding and avoiding fallacies in rhetorical appeals

Emotion must be tied correctly to the place/purpose of an argument, otherwise it spirals out of control. Example Fallacies of Pathos (Emotion):

• Hasty Generalizations are comments made in a rush/without thinking through a situation.

• Bandwagon Appeals are shared beliefs/common experience to bring an audience together for a cause/reason.

• Slippery Slope encourages audiences that a certain solution will lead to an inevitable demise/more terrible result than normal.

5. FALLACIES OF PATHOS

Exaggerating credibility or experience can backfire and result in negative responses to arguments. Example Fallacies of Ethos(Trust/Character):

• Ad Hominem attacks the person you are arguing against, specifically their personality, habits, experience.

• False Dilemma is an artifical assertion you can make to test the morals and character of a person; this is especially effective if you force them to make a choice that is harmful.

• Straw Man is when you rapidly create and dismiss claims without evidence.

6. FALLACIES OF ETHOS

You actively disrespect the intelligence and understanding of your audience/other speakers. Example Fallacies of Logos (Logic):

• Cause and Effect requires that conclusions follow the evidence, not doing so results in a fallacy of "common sense".

• Correlation doesn't equal Causation is the claim that a first event caused a second event, whether they're related or not.

• Moral Equivolence results in not justifying comparisons made from your moral code(s).

7. FALLACIES OF LOGOS

Steps to develop an effective argument

Qualify Your Claim: Make sure you modify your statemetn to be as specific (and especially defensible) as possible. Define your Terms: Make each supporting point and claim as understandable as possible so the listener/audience can appreciate your reasoning and approach to the argument. Consider Objections: Take the time to address possible objections/disagreements with your argument; recognizing and wrestling with them openly will boost your credibility.Support Each Point: Be sure to sign-post and touch on each supporting point you have for an argument. If not, your argument and credibility will be at risk. Write with Investment and Urgency: Show listeners you care about the argument and how it relates to the current situation.

Things to Remember

To develop an effective argument:Qualify your claim Define your terms Consider possible objections Support each point Write with investment and urgency

Think back to the rhetorical situation of arguments:What is your genre? What is your purpose? Who is your audience--intended and actual?

To begin an effective argument, you need:A claim Invite response Require supportKeep audience in mindConsider what support will be appropriate/inappropriate