ENG 201 Notes, Fall 2010

Rhetoric I Argumentation Purpose: to persuade Method: understand the issue, develop an idea about its relationships, gather background information around the issue, find out what has been said about it, what proponents (supporters) and opponents (protestors) say, decide on a stand or know why the issue can entail a two- sided argument , and then jot down what type of evidence can be used. Here is a simple way of developing an argument: 1. Introduce the issue and then state your claim so that the reader would know what you are trying to prove. The claim can remain implicit, but the analysis of the essay will shed light on it. 2. Write what the opponents have said and why. Give their analysis full attention and importance so that you avoid bias and any fallacious argument. 3. Give evidence to prove your claim without having to refute the opponents. Refutation will only exacerbate the matter, so show your proofs and make sure you have stronger arguments. The support you refer to has to be reliable and stronger than the opponents’ examples. Therefore, sources should be trustworthy and should be cited for authenticity of work. 4. Since there are situations where common points are shared between the proponents and the opponents, those ideas can be written in order to reduce the tension and create a solid yet persuasive basis for the whole argument. 5. Conclude by restating the claim and reminding the readers of the original question at hand, i.e., the claim. TYPES OF PROOF: LOGOS This type of proof relies on facts, reasons, and opinions that are based on reality. To sum up the varied forms, we use the acronym: SICDADS in order to clarify. S: Sign Argument from Sign is based on a specific visible sign. If we want to prove that something is certain or probable to happen, or that something is false, we can refer to a visible and valid sign. For example, when we say that many people have become homeless, we can refer to those who have lost their homes and are in the street. I: Induction Argument from Induction Forms conclusions from specific examples to the generalization. C: Cause Argument from Cause places the subject in a cause-and-effect relationship. For example. playing video games causes children to become violent) D: Deduction Argument from Deduction helps students draw conclusions from a general principle. Example: Terrorists are against freedom. America stands for freedom. Therefore, terrorists are against America. A: Analogy Argument from Analogy Forms arguments based on similarities and differences between examples. D: Definition Argument from Definition Bases argument on audience’s acceptance of a meaning of a key term. S: Statistics Argument from Statistics Describes relationships among terms in quantitative terms. _ ETHOS appeals to the audience’s impressions, opinions and judgments. Writers should be experts in their fields in order to develop credibility and show fairness and ethical views. _ PATHOS appeals to and arouses feelings/emotions of the audience. It attempts to motivate the audience and create an intensity of feelings.