Strategies for using ArgumentationPersuasion in an Essay
• Identify the issue and controversy
• State your position
• Provided background as needed for readers (audience)
Remember: Argument assumes conflicting viewpoints! Avoid
propositions that are merely factual and not debatable.
Examples
Fact: In the last few years, the nation’s small farmers have suffered financial
hardships.
Proposition: Inefficient management, rather than competition from agricultural
conglomerates, is responsible for the financial plight of the nation’s small farmers.
• Offer strong support for your proposition (thesis).
• Best evidence relates to your readers’ needs, values, and
experience.
• Unified, adequate, specific, accurate, dramatic, and
representative.
• Personal observation and/or experience
• Facts from official, credible media sources
• Examples from interviews (credible authorities/experts)
• Information that undermines your argument (contrary evidence)
• Don’t ignore this evidence…USE IT to arrive at a more balanced, perhaps
a qualified viewpoint.
• Be skeptical, analyze the material even if all evidence supports your point
of view. Don’t blindly accept or disregard flaws in the arguments made
by sources that agree with you.
• Outside sources aren’t always 100% right
• Look for biases that would cause a source to skew evidence
• Evaluate sources of information
• Ask yourself:
• Who is behind the information, what is their position, where does their
funding come from, what other issues might affect their position and
argument?
• Give credit to any material that isn’t your own
• Simple citation in editorial paper:
• Psychologist Aaron Beck believes depression is the result of distorted
thoughts.
• Newsweek (December 10, 2010) observes that teens have embraced new
technologies in their everyday lives.
NOTE: This simple citation format is NOT MLA documentation format
required for most academic essays (longer) in English and other liberal arts
fields.
• Use proper tone (voice)
• Don’t seek to alienate readers
• Avoid close-minded, morally superior language
• Anyone can see that…, Clearly it’s obvious to those capable of higher
thought…, etc.
• Avoid confrontational language
• Not: “My opponents think” “Those who don’t see it the same way as I do”
• Instead: “Opponents suggest,” “Those opposed to this idea,”
“Supporters of X…”
• Goodwill can establish common ground – points that all sides
can agree on despite differences – common values
• This makes readers (opponents) more receptive to your proposition.
• Argument must consider the position of strongest opposing views
• Seek out conflicting viewpoints, acknowledge them, perhaps
admit they have some merit.
• You come across as reasonable and thorough
• Can disarm your audience and leave them more receptive to your
argument.
• May not cause audience to agree 100% but can encourage them to
broaden their perspectives and consider your position.
• Use a respectful, non-adversarial tone – seek to understand
opposition to your views.
• Point out problems with opposing viewpoints.
• Inaccurate or inadequate evidence
• Faulty logic
• One-sided argument
• Highlights your position’s strengths
• Can refute point by point or one side at a time
• Be very clear so readers can distinguish your arguments from the other
side.
• Ad hominem argument (Latin for “to the man”)
• Attack a person rather than a point of view
• Appeals to questionable or faulty authority
• “sources close to…an unidentified spokesperson states…experts
claim…studies show”
• Circular argument
• End of argument restates the beginning
• Pornography should be banned because it is obscene.
• Post hoc fallacy (Latin for “after this, therefore because of
this…”
• Cause-effect relationship based on timing
• Just because a result happened after an event does not mean the event
caused the result.
• Because General Mills cereals are advertised aggressively on kidtargeted television shows, obesity rates have risen among children.
• Hasty Generalizations
• Conclusion formed from only one or two examples.
• Airbags do more harm than good because my friend was seriously injured
when an airbag opened.
• Either-Or Fallacy
• Oversimplifies a complex issue
• Complex issues have only two solutions X or Y
• Slippery Slope
• Take one step, then a series of disasters will inevitably follow. Only way to
avoid the catastrophe is to avoid the first step.
• If we legalize marijuana, eventually ten-year-olds will be smoking it.
• Bandwagon Appeal
• Falsely suggests an action is good because it is popular or endorsed by a
popular person (peer pressure)
• All good parents support higher taxes for our school district.
• Tell the reader what you want them to do.
• Pursue implications – if your position is not followed through
then X could be affected (could happen).
• Try to make your point linger in the reader’s mind.