Strategies for Arguing
CHAPTER 14: P.305-323
“Arguments are only as strong as the
evidence behind them!”
Evidence must always be:
1)Good
2)Strong
3)And reliable
What is evidence in terms of this class?
Evidence will come in the form of quotations from
been exposed to in class.
1. ANALOGY ARGUMENTS
Analogies are all about comparisons,
finding the similarities between two
elements, people, objects, or issues.
They are powerful because they
provide back-up for your argument.
“See how X and Y are related. X
happened in the same way that Y
did.”
Tip: Key word is
“like”. When you
hear “like” you’re
reading an analogy.
2. CLASSIFICATION ARGUMENTS
Classification is all about CATEGORIZING, putting
things in groups.
This makes it easy for YOU and your READER to
digest all the information being presented.
There are 3 folders. You need 3 body paragraphs.
Imagine each folder as representing 1 body paragraph.
Notice how each folder is separate from the next, to avoid
confusion.
Classification (contd.)
Websites are great examples of
classification in its active form.
Notice how every website has a
variety of pages (a menu) to click on
for further information on that
particular topic.
Imagine if all of the information
was mixed together with no
organization.
What would that look like?
3. COMPARE CONTRAST
ARGUMENTS
Compare = find the similarities
Contrast = find the differences
There are 2 ways you can do this:
1) Block Format: Talk about A first, then talk about B.
oA B
2) Alternating Format: Talk about A then B, A then B, etc.
oA B A B A B
4. DEFINITION ARGUMENTS
“Definitions often lie at the heart of an argument”
(Lunsford 311).
Essays that use definition MUST:
1) provide a clear explanation of the topic at
hand 2) list important details related to the topic
3) provide specific examples of the topic
This is an image from your textbook
(313). It is making an argument.
1) It is making a negative statement on
America’s capitalistic society.
Capitalism is an economic system
which means that private individuals
make profit from trade and
consumerism (people sell, we buy,
people make a profit).
2) It uses the Coca Cola slogan, colors,
and style to entice the audience and
make a comment on how we are
defined by all the stuff we are
brainwashed to purchase/consume.
3) Specific Example: Entrepreneur
creates product. Consumer buys
product for its high-end name.
Entrepreneur makes profit.
5. DESCRIPTIVE ARGUMENTS
WHEN YOU DESCRIBE SOMETHING, YOU…
1-EXPLAIN HOW IT LOOKS...
2-SOUNDS
3-SMELLS
4-FEELS
5-TASTES
“Good descriptions focus on distinctive (particular) features and concrete details”
(313).
Tip: Make
a
“dominant
impression
” on your
audience.
6. EXAMPLE ARGUMENTS
“If a picture is worth a thousand
words, then a good example runs a
close second” (315).
You can draw on personal
experience to prove your point in an
essay, as long as it is pertinent to your
topic.
Look @ p.316 of your textbook for
Steve Jobs’ example.
7. HUMOROUS
ARGUMENTS
“Humor can sometimes be used to
good effect to support an argumentas long as the humor is appropriate
to the context and audience” (317).
Why do it?
1) may help you connect with your audience
2) provide relief from a serious topic
8. NARRATIVE
ARGUMENTS
Narration is another word for story-telling. It
should be told from the first person POV (I)
because it is YOUR story.
Synonyms: memoir, personal story, 1st
person narration
Narrative is often used to OPEN an
argument.
9. PROBLEM SOLUTION
ARGUMENTS
Problem Solution arguments
open with stating what the problem
is, and proposing a solution. Your
thesis statement would follow this
model: “Since X is a major problem
today, some Ys believe that Z could
be a solution.”
10. REITERATION ARGUMENTS
REITERATION = REPETITION
In a reiteration argument, the writer would choose an
argument already being made somewhere by
someone, and support it by reiterating it in their own
words.