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Argument

Argument. noun . a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong. Different Theses. Literature Review:. Argument:.

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Argument

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  1. Argument noun. a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong.

  2. Different Theses Literature Review: Argument: Apples are the greatest fruit in the world because they are the most nutritious, most delicious, and most affordable fruit in the world. Focus on claims Presents the writer’s opinion Persuasive writing Recent research has found strong evidence that apples are indeed the best fruit; researchers have focused their inquiries on three main areas: nutrition, taste, and affordability. • Focus on research • Doesn’t present the writer’s opinion • Expository writing

  3. THESIS: Apples are the greatest fruit in the world because they are the most nutritious, most delicious, and most affordable fruit in the world. Apples are the greatest fruit in the world CLAIM because REASONS Most delicious Most nutritious Most affordable EVIDENCE ??? ??? ???

  4. Claims A claim is an arguable statement, meaning it • attempts to convince readers of something, change their minds about something, or urge them to do something. • addresses a problem for which no easily acceptable solution exists or asks a question to which no absolute answer exists. • presents a position that readers might realistically have varying perspectives on.

  5. Which of these are claims? • The Lord of the Rings was the best movie of the last decade. • The United States must reduce social spending to balance the budget. • Shakespeare died in 1616. • Two types of adoption exist: open adoption and closed adoption.

  6. Which of these are claims? • The climate of the earth is gradually getting warmer. • The incidence of breast cancer has risen in the last ten years. • A fifty-five mph speed limit lowers accident rates.

  7. Brainstorm some possible claims for your own argument using your lit review topic as a starting place.

  8. Reasons • Reasons are sub-claims: like claims, they are usually arguable statements. • Reasons provide necessary support for the claim, and in turn, they are supported by the evidence.

  9. How well do these reasons support their claims? • Attendance policies should be abolished because sometimes I don’t like to go to class. • One reason you should watch less TV is that it would free up time for you to pursue other hobbies. • Mom, I love you so so much. Can I borrow fifty bucks?

  10. Choose one of your claims from the last brainstorming session and try to add some reasons you think would be supportive.

  11. Evidence • Evidence is given in support of a reason or claim. • Unlike reasons and claims, the strongest evidence is not arguable; it is factual. • However, readers may still doubt the credibility or applicability of evidence, so it must be chosen and used carefully.

  12. Evidence Everyday arguments rely on readily available evidence: Researched arguments rely on more robust evidence: Research studies Experiments Case studies Expert opinion Statistical information • Personal experience • Intuition • Hypothetical situations • Force of will • Testimonials

  13. What kind of evidence would be convincing for each reason in our sample argument? Apples are the greatest fruit in the world CLAIM because REASONS Most delicious Most nutritious Most affordable EVIDENCE ??? ??? ???

  14. Take a minute and brainstorm two things: • What evidence are you already aware of that could be used to support the claims and reasons you brainstormed before? • What evidence have you not yet found but imagine would be useful in proving your claims and reasons?

  15. Qualifiers • Strategically limit the breadth or applicability of a claim. “As far as nutrition is concerned, apples are the greatest fruit in the world.” “Except in cases of rape and incest, abortion should not be allowed.”

  16. Two Kinds of Assumptions • Prescriptive Assumptions assume the writer and reader share the same values. • Descriptive Assumptions assume the evidence actually proves the reason.

  17. Prescriptive Assumptions • Smoking should not be allowed anywhere on campus because second-hand smoke is a health hazard. • Corporal punishment should be allowed in high schools because that’s what we’ve always done.

  18. Descriptive Assumptions • You shouldn’t go to Chili’s on Slide. I went there once and had a bad experience. • You can trust my 1997 Ford Escort to get you to Colorado this weekend—’97 was a great year for Fords.

  19. Critiquing Assumptions All arguments contain assumptions, so when critiquing them we don’t merely find and vilify them. Instead we ask: • Is this assumption reasonable? Is it unreasonable? • How much would the argument suffer if the assumption is invalid?

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