Argumentative Writing Answer Chart: PROPOSAL UNIT / VOCABULARY & CONCEPTS
1. Argumentation vs Persuasion
a) Argumentation is when a writer uses clear thinking and logic and reasoning to convince readers
to support an opinion. It aims to encourage the acceptance of ideas.
b) Persuasion is when a writer uses emotion language and dramatic appeals to which the reader
concerns, believes, or values. The writer uses words to convince the reader to believe or agree
with their opinion. It aims to gain readers’ commitment to a course of action.
2.
Aristotle’s 3 Components of Argument/Persuasion
a) Logos- logical appeal
b) Pathos- emotional appeal
c) Ethos- Ethical appeal
3.
Inductive Reasoning
Definition- Inductive reasoning is newer than
deductive reasoning, a product of the scientific
age, and reasoning from specific examples to
draw general conclusions
forms of- 3 forms:
sampling-arriving at a conclusion about a
group through reference to a certain percentage
of that group
analogy- suggesting that things are alike in
some ways must also be alike in others
casual generalizations- generalizing many
members of a class to determine why one
member is different
flaws of: too few samples, irrelevant samples,
atypical examples, faulty analogy, faulty cause
and effect, failure to realize that the conclusion
in induction requires an “inductive leap” or
inference
Deductive Reasoning
Definition: Begins with an assumption that is
accepted and then moves to a specific
conclusion.
Syllogism & parts of syllogism: Syllogism is
a formal way to set up a deductive argument.
The parts of syllogism: Major Premises- a
general assumption about an entire group.
Minor premises- a linking statement about an
individual within that group. Conclusion-based
on logical movement from major premises to
minor premises. A conclusion makes a new
statement about the individual mentioned in the
minor premises.
faulty syllogism: The Major premises and the
minor premises do not link correctly, creating
an improper conclusion.
deductive flaws: A flaw that may occur in
deductive arguments.
cause & effect fallacies- this statement is
basically blaming smaller things for larger
problems. For example, “In Los Angeles, the
high number of people smoking is causing air
pollution.” (This may be true, but in retrospect,
smoking is a small part of the large are
pollution problem.
4.
5.
Explain the 4 Components of a Rhetorical Situation
Purpose, writer (expressive focus), subject (informative focus), reader( persuasive focus)
5.
If you (the writer) want to persuade your audience, you should:
Consider using the good propaganda. This includes name calling, argumentum and
hominen, glittering generalities, slippery slope, hasty generalization, guilt or glory by
association, bandwagon, testimonial and endorsement, faulty cause and effect, two
extremes fallacy, and straw person techniques. Avoid errors so your readers do not find
faults. You could also use emotional appeals such as fear, loyalty, pity, prejudice, and
vanity.
6. Analyze your audience & establish your credibility
To analyze your audience you have to ask three questions. Are you an expert writing to amateurs?
Are you a sincere an concerned individual citizen? Are you an equal of your audience asking their
attention for a personal concern?
7.
Writer’s Task in Argument: what are the main pts for these?
a) main ideas
a. The points being discussed in an argument. Appear as topic sentences.
b) topic sentences
a. Sentences that introduce the topic of a paragraph. Appear at the beginning of a
paragraph.
c) transition words
a. words and phrases like: “The point is”, “this is one reason”, “the causes are
complex”, and “in contrast”
d) idea markers
a. things like “for example” and “to illustrate the point”
e) organization
1) cause-effect
2) compare and contrast the similarities and differences
3) build to the most important point
f) Fact
a. Statement that can be proven true or false
g) Opinion
a. Personal belief that cannot be proven true or false
h) Inference
i)
a. logical guess one makes by combining what you learn with your prior knowledge
drawing a conclusion
a. a judgment or decision. It is based upon facts, inferences, and prior knowledge.
j)
8.
Generalization
a. A broad idea or statement based on specific examples.
Avoiding errors in Reasoning
a) Purpose of evaluation- persuading to buy
b) Purpose of position- persuading you to believe something
c) Purpose of proposals- persuading you to do something
d) emotional appeals- statements directed at people’s emotions rather then reason
e) loaded language- use of words that have strong positive or negative associations
f) emotional fallacies- attempt to elicit an emotional response
9.
11 Propaganda Techniques: briefly describe
10. a)
name calling- calling other people bad names or using negative words
11. b)
argumentum ad hominem- talking bad or attacking the person
12. c)
glittering generalities- vague words with no real meaning behind them
13. d)
slippery slope- chain of events that are not likely to happen
14. e)
hasty generalization- having a conclusion based off not enough evidence
15. f)
transfer of guilt
16. 1- guilt by association- sharing or dislike for the topic that the speaker wants the people to know
17. 2- glory by association- having positive feelings of something that the speaker wants accepted
18. g)
bandwagon- persuading someone to join because someone else is doing it
19. h)
testimonial or endorsement- respected person giving approval of the topic
20. i)
faulty cause & effect- cause and effect relationship that might not be true
21. j)
2 extremes fallacy- portraying reality that are polar opposites
22. k)
straw person- changing what the opponents view on the topic so that it is easy to attack, the argument
attacks that point of view that does not exist
10. Emotional fallacies
11. what are they? They attempt to elicit an emotional response that will serve as the basis of any
decision made instead of presenting an argument and relying on its soundness
12. why shouldn’t they be used? They should not be use because they appeal and rely on emotion
instead of arguing with facts and logic and therefore can be misguided.
13. who uses them? Everyone uses emotional fallacies.
14. common emotions targeted? Common emotions targeted are fear, loyalty, pity, prejudice, and
vanity.
15. appeal to fear. An appeal to fear is to tap into the emotions of love and fear by threatening the
safety or happiness of ourselves or someone we love.
16. appeal to loyalty. Appeals to loyalty try to make people make decisions on what is, “In the
best interest,” of the group. Peer pressure and bandwagon are also examples of this.
17. appeal to pity. Appeals to pity try to replace logic with the sadness for the subject.
18. sob story. Sob story is very similar to appeal to pity because the appeals often contain a sob
story used to change their logic.
19. appeal to prejudice. An appeal to prejudice involves the writer judging a group’s actions in a
positive or negative way, often it is negative.
20. appeal to vanity. An appeal to vanity is strategy that creates a predisposition to an agreement
by paying complements.