Argumentation - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Argumentation

The mechanics of taking a firm stand aiming to persuade an audienceSlide2

Arguments are Everywhere

Making an argument = expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence.

This is often the most important task of academic writing. Often, this is also an unstated expectation.Slide3

Most information is not “just facts”

At PEP, we emphasize the importance of worldview thinking.

A necessary inference of this is that most information, even information that is presented as “simple fact,” is a person’s interpretation of a set of information.

It’s important to recognize this as you plan to write your research paper, as well as preparing for college writing.Slide4

Worldview and Argumentation

In Core E and F classes, as well as college classes, you will need to do more than summarize information or regurgitate facts on writing assignments.

You will need to develop a point of view and provide evidence to support your point of view.

This is called

argumentation.Slide5

Bloodletting DiscontinuedSlide6

Blood Letting

For nearly 1500 years, people in Western cultures believed that blood-letting was an effective treatment for many illnesses.

The “fact” that blood-letting (deliberately causing a person to lose blood) was beneficial to the human body and aided in the healing process was not seriously questioned until the 1800’s.Slide7

Bloodletting Discontinued

Bloodletting was discontinued as a medical treatment because health care practitioners accepted a “new set of facts.”

People began to doubt the effectiveness of bloodletting and argued against it with convincing evidence.Slide8

Argumentation

Cigarettes: Good for your health?Slide9

Argumentation

Argumentation of a popularly held belief of many people of an earlier generation.Slide10

Argumentation

Cures Asthma? Huh? Foul breath? Canker Sores?

Also, “not recommended for children under 6”!!!Slide11

A Different ArgumentSlide12

A Different ArgumentSlide13

A Different ArgumentSlide14

Argumentation

We all use argumentation daily.

You already have skill in crafting arguments.

Some benefits of improving your skills here are:

Improved critical thinking

Improved reasoning

Wiser decision making

Better at weighing evidenceSlide15

Making a claim

An argument is a

claim,

or

thesis statement.

It is supported with evidence.

Your ability to make specific claims and support them will distinguish your writing from that of your peers.Slide16

Why do you need to make a claim

The days of being given a “topic” about which you can write anything you want are

gone!

Probably forever!

In the majority of Core E, F, and college writing, you will need to stake out a claim and defend it. In other words, you need to be able to demonstrate why a thoughtful, intelligent person would hold your position.Slide17

Simple claim

“Protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged.”

“In this experiment, protons and electrons acted in . . . Manner.”Slide18

Complex Claim

“The book of Ephesians is not primarily about individual justification by faith, but about how Jews and Gentiles are to be united into one body, the Church, through the reconciling work of Jesus Christ.”

Evidence would include the number of times Jew/Gentile issues are addressed, references to “Christ as our peace,” etc.Slide19

How to avoid your paper being an “information dump”

Ask yourself, “what is my point?”

Your point should be articulated in your thesis statement.

For example, the purpose of these research paper presentations is to help you become better writers and the purpose of today’s presentation is to demonstrate that argumentation is an important element in good academic writing.Slide20

What if I don’t have a main point?

If you don’t have a main point, you really can’t be arguing for anything, and you won’t do well on this assignment.

Also, consider that the instructors whom you write for (whether at PEP or another place) will generally know more about what you are writing about than you do about your subject matter. Why are you being asked to provide information which, for the most part, they may already know?Slide21

What instructors (and readers) are looking for:

1. Proof that you understand the material AND

2. A demonstration of your ability to use or apply the material in ways that go beyond what you have read and heard.Slide22

Application of Material

This may include:

Critique

Apply it to something else

Explain it in a different way

In order to apply the material, you must have a main point to argue.Slide23

Evidence

Do not stop with your main point.

You must bring evidence to back up your main point, and your other points.

You also have the skills to do this

Example: How did you get your parents to let you get your driver’s license? Borrow their vehicle? Did you present instances of your trustworthiness? Did you make them feel guilty by telling them that all your friends’ parents were doing this? Did you whine until they just said ‘yes’ to shut you up? Did you do research on driving and show them that you don’t fit the dangerous driver profile?Slide24

Counterarguments

In your early research, it may seem as though no reasonable person could hold a position that opposes yours.

However, if you have a strong thesis statement (if the “duh” factor is eliminated), you should be able to generate counterarguments against your position.Slide25

Steps to Finding Counterarguments

Research. You should be able to find opposing points of view.

Imagine how and why people may hold opposing points of view.

Talk with your friends, parents, or others.

Consider the implications of your position and imagine why people may not embrace those implications.Slide26

Counterarguments

It is generally better to address one or two counterarguments in a substantive way than to list all of the possible counterarguments against your position and respond to them in phrases, slogans, or a sentence.Slide27

Concession Statement

Your paper must have at least one concession statement.

This demonstrates that you have done enough research to be familiar with the arguments against your position and that you see that they have some credibility.

A good researcher will

counterargue

points against his position, but will also see that there are good reasons for holding a different position than his own, and will indicate this.Slide28

Concession Statements

You will need one or more concession statements. These will begin with something like, “It is true, however . . . “

This demonstrates that you know your material, your evidence is not irrefutable, and that you are attempting to characterize opposing positions fairly. Slide29

Summary: Taking a firm stand

You MUST choose one position or the other to argue for in your paper.

DON’T be afraid to explain exactly how you think about the issue that you have chosen. THIS is exactly what is expected from a persuasive paper, or an argumentative paper.

YOU are in charge. WHAT do YOU think? WHY?Slide30

Summary: Taking a firm stand

Do

Don’t

Use passionate

language

Use weak

qualifiers like, “I feel,” “I believe,” “It seems to me,” “I think,” “Perhaps,” . . . just say it!!!

Cite experts

who agree with you

Claim

to be an expert if you are not one

Provide

facts, evidence, and statistics to support your position

Use strictly

moral or religious claims as support for your position (the Bible verse fallacy)

Provide

reasons to support your claim

Assume that your audience will agree with you about every aspect of your

argument

Address the opposing

positions arguments and refute their claims

Attempt to make others look bad (using

ad

hominems

such as:

Dr. Smith is an idiot . . People shouldn’t listen to him).Slide31

Sources

http

://www.roanestate.edu/owl/

Argument.html

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/

argument