Lake Sumter State College
ENC 1101
Professor Leonard M. Miller
Class Notes for Essay of Persuasion/Argument—part 2
( “ 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.)
Appeals:
Ethos—related to the speaker/writer
Logos—related to the subject
Pathos—related to the audience/reader
The Audience:
If the reader is:
Friendly—The reader is welcoming to the ideas presented, and the writer needs to be logical, but free to use
emotional strategies (pathos).
Hostile—The reader is critical, looking for flaws in the argument due to predisposed thinking, and the writer
needs to emphasize the logical particularly using language that is straightforward and objective.f
Uncommitted—The reader is uniformed but open minded, and the writer is able to use subtlety and caution
as it can attempt to win over an audience that is able to be persuaded by the argument.
Argumentation and Other Rhetorical Strategies:
Within an Essay to Persuade, the writer may use other rhetorical strategies:
*comparison/contrast
*definition
*description
*cause/effect
*classification
*process
However, these strategies are only developmental strategies to maintain the prime focus of argument or persuasion.
The primary focus of the essay HAS TO BE to PERSUADE or ARGUE, not to explain or inform.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning—Specific examples leading to a general statement of argument. (The Triangle)
Deductive Reasoning—Overall generalizations leading to a specific concluding argument. (The INVERTED Triangle)
Deductive Reasoning follows the argumentative patterns of the SYLLOGISM:
The Classic, Logical Syllogism— 1. All humans are mortal.
1.
MAJOR PREMISE
2.
MINOR PREMISE
3.
CONCLUSION
The Faulty, Illogical Syllogism—1. All living creatures are mammal.
2. Socrates is human.
2. A lobster is a living creature.
3. Socrates is mortal.
3. A lobster is a mammal.