Structure, Form, and Fallacies - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Structure, Form, and Fallacies

ArgumentationSlide2

In its broadest sense,

ALL

writing is argument.Presentation, defense, support of specific thesis, assertion, or claim (warrant).THESISStrongly held belief, critical view of an issue, presentation of an insight, search for truth, descriptionConvince using logical evidence (logos) and emotional appeals (pathos)

What is an ARGUMENT?Slide3

A piece of writing that offers no support for a claim.

Example:

Smokey November clouds gyrate menacingly, shooting bullets of ice upon the weak, frail human specter. What is NOT an argument?Slide4

ARGUMENT

Goal

accept the writer’s thesisExample:

Walking is necessary for good health.

Goal

ACT

get moving and

do something

after accepting or rejecting the writer’s positionALL persuasion is a type of argumentExample:For good health, a person should walk every day.

What is the difference between argument and persuasion?

PERSUASIONSlide5

The prompt could be…

A brief excerpt

A quotationA statementAn anecdoteDefend (agree), challenge (disagree), or qualify (agree with some and disagree with other parts of the text) the…Author’s positionStatement’s main ideaNarrative’s main point

How can I write an effective argument on the AP Language exam?Slide6

AgreeDo I think about this subject in the same way as the writer/speaker?

Disagree

Do I think the writer/speaker is totally wrong?QualifyDo I think some of what is said is correct and some incorrect?What does it mean to agree, disagree, or qualify?Slide7

Support should be rational and logical

NOT

emotionalObjective NOT biasedDo not try to con the reader or pad the essay with irrelevanciesHow do I argue a point or position?Slide8

Present the issue/situation/problem.

State your (writer’s) assertion/claim/thesis.

Support your claim.Acknowledge and respond to real or possible opposing views.Make your final comment or summary of the evidence. How do I structure my argument?Slide9

Facts/statistics

Details

QuotationsDialogNeeded definitionsRecognition of the oppositionExamplesAnecdotesContrast and comparisonCause and effectAppeal to authorityHow do I support my argument?Slide10

An argument can be

Ethical

Appeal to good sense, goodwill, desire to do “the right thing”, credibilityEmotionalAppeal to reader’s fear, patriotism, etc.LogicalAppeal with inductive or deductive reasoningInductive: form a generalization based on a specific set of examplesDeductive:

reach a probable conclusion based on given premises

The Argument ItselfSlide11

Inductive Example:

Margo has 17 stuffed teddy bears, 3 stuffed cows, 11 monkeys, 4 camels, and 6 stuffed elephants.

Margo loves to collect stuffed animals.Deductive Example:All high school seniors at this high school must write a research paper. Sean is a senior at this high school; therefore, Sean must write a research paper. Induction and DeductionSlide12

Conclusions can be drawn from implicit premises:

Universal truths

Possibilities that the reader will readily acceptFamiliar sayingsCommon knowledge: facts that everyone, including the reader, should knowDeduction: ConclusionsSlide13

Format of a formal argument consisting of a

Major premise: All A are C. “All lions are cats.”

Minor premise: B is A. “Leonard is a lion.”Conclusion: Therefore, B is C. “Leonard is a cat.”If a syllogism does not contain a conclusion based on a major and minor premise, then it is possibly a LOGICAL FALLACY.

Deduction is based on the

syllogismSlide14

Non sequitur argument:

does not follow

Diane graduated from Vassar. She will make a great lawyer.Begging the question: something remains to be provedTaking geometry is a waste of time. High School students should not be required to take this course.Circular reasoning: restates premise rather than giving a reason for holding the premiseI like to eat out because I enjoy different foods and restaurants.

LOGICAL FALLACY:

Mistakes in ReasoningSlide15

Strawman argument:

(political campaigns) attributing false or exaggerated characteristics or behaviors to the opponent and attacking based on the falsehoods and exaggerationsYou say support allowing people under eighteen to drive alone. I will never be able to understand why weak-willed drivers like you are willing to risk your life and the lives of all other drivers with these crazy teenagers on the road. Logical Fallacies ContinuedSlide16

Ad hominem argument:

argue against the man

Attacks the person instead of the issueWe all know Sam has several speeding tickets on his record. How can we trust him to vote for us on the issue of a trade agreement with Europe?Logical Fallacies ContinuedSlide17

Hasty generalization

:

drawing a conclusion about an entire group based insufficient evidenceThe veterinarian discovered a viral infection in five beagles. All beagles must be infected with it.Overgeneralization: (stereotyping, profiling) drawing a conclusion about a group of people, ideas, or things based on limited or vague evidence; (qualifiers: all, never, always, every)All members of group A are not to be trusted.

Logical Fallacies ContinuedSlide18

Post hoc argument:

cites an earlier, unrelated event as the cause of the current situation

I saw a black cat run across the street in front of my car five minutes before I was hit by a foul ball at the ball park. Therefore, the black cat is the cause of my bruised arm.Either/or argument: writer asserts that there are only two possibilities, when, in reality, there are moreTomorrow is April 15; therefore, I must mail in my tax return, or I will be arrested. Logical Fallacies ContinuedSlide19

Clearly developed thesis is evident

Facts are distinguished from opinions

Opinions are supported and qualifiedSpeaker develops a logical argument that avoids fallacious reasoningSupport for facts is tested, reliable, and authoritativeSpeaker does not confuse appeals to logic and emotionOpposing views are represented fairly and objectivelyArgument reflects a sense of audienceArgument reflects an identifiable voice and point of viewPiece reflects image of a speaker with identifiable qualities (honesty, sincerity, authority, intelligence, etc.)

Rhetorical Argument ChecklistSlide20

Practice Prompt

In his famous “Vast Wasteland” address to the National Association of Broadcasters in May of 1961, Newton Minow, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, spoke about the power of television to influence the taste, knowledge, and opinions of its viewers around the world. Carefully read the following, paying close attention to how timely it is today, especially in light of the worldwide Internet. Minow

ended his speech warning that “The power of instantaneous sight and sound is without precedent in mankind’s history. This is an awesome power. It has limitless capabilities for good—and for evil. And it carries with it awesome responsibilities—responsibilities which you

[and the

government] cannot escape…”

Using your own knowledge and your own experiences or reading, write a carefully constructed essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies

Minow’s

ideas. Slide21

Highlight essential elements of the prompt.

In his famous “Vast Wasteland” address to the National Association of Broadcasters in May of 1961, Newton Minow, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, spoke about the power of television to influence the taste, knowledge, and opinions of its viewers around the world. Carefully read the following, paying close attention to how timely it is today, especially in light of the worldwide Internet.

Minow

ended his speech warning that “The power of instantaneous sight and sound is without precedent in mankind’s history. This is an awesome power. It has limitless capabilities for good—and for evil. And it carries with it awesome responsibilities—responsibilities which you

[and the

government] cannot escape…”

Using your own knowledge and your own experiences or reading, write a carefully constructed essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies

Minow’s ideas. Slide22

Highlight essential elements of the prompt.

In his famous “Vast Wasteland” address to the National Association of Broadcasters in May of

1961

,

Newton

Minow

, the Chairman of the

Federal Communications Commission, spoke about the power of television to influence the taste, knowledge, and opinions of its viewers around the world. Carefully read the following, paying close attention to how

timely it is today, especially in light of the worldwide Internet. Minow

ended his speech

warning

that

“The power of instantaneous sight and sound is without precedent in mankind’s history

. This is an

awesome power

. It has

limitless capabilities for good—and for evil

. And it carries with it

awesome responsibilities

—responsibilities which

you and [the government] cannot escape…”

Using your

own knowledge

and your

own experiences

or

reading

, write a carefully constructed essay that

defends, challenges, or qualifies

Minow’s

ideas. Slide23

Plan the Essay

Refer specifically to the prompt

Clearly state your position on the given issue Cite speaker and occasion Examine sample opening paragraphsSlide24

I agree with Newton

Minow’s

assertion to the National Association of Broadcasters that “The power of instantaneous sight and sound is…an awesome power…[with] capabilities for good—and for evil.” However, I disagree with his placing the responsibility for this power squarely in the hands of the broadcasters and the government. Sample A

Does the response defend, challenge, or qualify?

Sample A qualifies the assertion presented by

Minow

. The writer agrees with the potential of the power but disagrees about who should take responsibility. Slide25

Imagine—you have limitless capabilities for good and evil—you, not Superman, can control the world with you super powers. And, what are your powers? Do you have x-ray vision,

morphability

, immortality? NO, you have the most awesome power ever devised—you can instantaneously influence the taste, knowledge, and opinions of mankind around the world. You are Supernet! And you have a super headache because you agree with Newton Minow, who warned the national Association of Broadcasters in 1961 that “You have an awesome responsibility.”

Sample B

Does the response defend, challenge, or qualify?

Sample B agrees with

Minow’s

position but treats the assertion in a lighthearted fashion. The reader can expect a humorous and possibly irreverent tone in the essay. Slide26

Nowhere is the awesome power for good and

evel

of modern technology more clearly seen than in the Internet’s pervasiveness and influence. Newton Minow was right on target in 1961 when he warned the national Association of Broadcasters that the power of TV has “limitless capabilities for good—and for evil.”Sample C

Does the response defend, challenge, or qualify?

Sample C indicates a writer who has obviously decided to limit the area of the argument to that of the Internet and has chosen to agree with

Minow

. Slide27

Read, analyze, and evaluate sample body paragraphs on provided handouts.

Sample body paragraphs and essaysSlide28

Murphy, Barabara

L., Rankin, Estelle M.

Five Steps to a Five: AP Language 2012-2013. McGraw-Hill: New York. 2011.Reference