Lake Sumter State College
ENC 1101
Professor Leonard M. Miller
Class Notes for Essay of Persuasion/Argument—part I
( “ Argumentation.” Subject & Strategy: A Writer’s Reader. Ed. Eschholz, Paul and Alfred Rosa. 11th ed. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008. 454-473. Print.)
Persuasive and Logical Argument (455-456)
Persuasive argument:
*relies on appeals to emotion, to subconscious, even to bias and prejudice.
*appeals involve: diction, slanting language, figurative language, analogy, rhythmic patterns of speech, positive tone
encouraging an active response from reader
*seen within exaggerated advertising claims and political speeches of candidates and activists.
Logical argument:
*appeals primarily to the audience’s ability to think, understand, and communicate about a wide range of issues.
*does not usually impel its reader to any action.
*depends upon the writer’s ability to move from assertion to evidence to conclusion in a very disciplined way of supplying
proof and counterproof.
*found more commonly in scientific or philosophical articles, in legal decisions, and in technical proposals.
Note: “Most arguments are neither purely persuasive nor purely logical in nature” (456).
The kinds of appeals a writer uses depend upon the nature of the topic, the thesis or proposition of the argument, the various kinds of
support (evidence, opinions, examples, facts, statistics) offered, and a “thoughtful consideration” of the audience.
Additional Types of Arguments (456-457)
Informational, or Exploratory, Argument
*main purpose is to inform an uninformed reader with various facets of an issue, usually controversial, and help the reader
take an position.
*writer of this type of argument does not take a position but aims to render positions taken by various sides.
Focused Argument
*has only ONE objective: to change the audience’s mind about a controversial issue
*does not take a “comprehensive” or “broad” view of the subject
*opposing view are considered in order to show their inadequacies
*is considered the “traditional” argument
Action-Oriented Argument
*is highly persuasive and attempts to accomplish a specific task
*has emotionally charged language with buzz words designed to arouse audience emotions
*employs propaganda techniques and “bandwagonism”
Quiet, or Subtle, Argument
*is not the “in-your-face” type of argument that is shown with Action-Oriented Arguments
*appears informative and objective, but through writer’s subtle language and direction, it can become “slanted” when looked
closely and read more carefully
Quiet, or Subtle, Argument (cont’d)
*can be convincing because the writer does not always include counter-arguments, thus favoring to promote only those of the
writer.
Reconciliation Argument
*attempts to explore all facets of the issue in order to find common ground or areas of agreement
*strives to lessen the hardening of positions and to mediate opposing views into a rational and even practical outcome.
*Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is a significant example of this type.
Writing Strategies for Argumentation/Persuasion (457-460)
True arguments are limited to assertions where there is a “legitimate” and “recognized” difference of opinion.
The basis for arguments need to be “arguable.”
The chief purpose of argument must be the setting forth of a particular point of view and the rebuttal of any opposing views.
Classical Appeals
Key components in all situations to communicate: the speaker (or writer), the subject, and the audience (or reader).
Ethos:
*(Greek for “character”)
*has to do with authority, the credibility, and morals of the writer
*writer needs to show respect for the reader in the writing
Logos:
*(Greek for “word”)
*related to the subject and is the effective presentation of the argument itself
*refers to the writer’s “grasp” of the subject—his/her knowledge
*poses the question—Is the claim (thesis) a worthwhile one?
*needs to be logical, consistent, and well-supported by evidence
*must be clearly presented and thoughtfully organized
*designed to impact the reader so that a change in reader opinion is expected
Pathos:
*(Greek for “emotion”)
*has most to do with the audience (reader)
*appeals to reader’s emotions through “artful and strategic use of well-crafted language”
*uses buzzwords, slanted diction, emotionally loaded language which could all backfire on writer if used carelessly
Considering the Audience(Reader)
NEVER a “given:”
*hostile?
*mature?
*open-minded?
*friendly?
*interested?