ARGUMENT FOLDABLE

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WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

Argument is structured by way of claims, evidence, warrants, counterclaims, rebuttals. It relies on logical reasoning and critical thinking.

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WHAT IS IT NOT?

Persuasion differs from argument by its purpose to move people to a belief, position, or action. Persuasion may rely on appeals to emotion or credibility or logic.

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KEY FEATURES OF ARGUMENTATION

CLAIM: What you are trying to prove

REASONS: Logical conclusions and thinking that supports claims (often the topic sentence of paragraphs).

EVIDENCE: Facts supporting reasons and claims

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KEY FEATURES OF ARGUMENTATION

WARRANTS: How the evidence connects to the reason or claim. Answers the “So What?”

COUNTERCLAIM: Opposing viewpoint

REBUTTAL: Supports the claim by refuting the counterclaim

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KEY FEATURES EXAMPLESCLAIM: Most pesticides used in farming should be banned.

REASONS: Pesticides endanger the lives of farmers.

EVIDENCE: Pesticides may cause cancer according to a published study in 2009 (Disease Registry).

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KEY FEATURES EXAMPLES

WARRANTS: Workers have a right to a safe environment. Substances that endanger the lives of workers deserve to be banned.

COUNTERCLAIM: The use of pesticides is a common practice in agriculture and homes and parks.

REBUTTAL: Safety measures in a work environment require different methods than personal choices made in one’s home.

Rhetorical AppealsLOGOS: logical appeal• Appeals to reason and logic

PATHOS: emotional appeal• Appeals to emotions and values

ETHOS: ethical appeal• Appeals to the credibility of the speaker

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Rhetorical QuestionsLOGOS: logical appeal

• Is the source trustworthy?• Are terms clearly defined?• Is evidence out of context?

PATHOS: emotional appeal• What emotions does it appeal to?• Is the appeal effective or manipulative?

ETHOS: ethical appeal• Is the speaker knowledgeable?• Is he or she trustworthy?

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Rhetorical Examples

LOGOS: logical appeal• Between 1960 and 1970, the 60% of the world’s

illiterate were women (Adrienne Rich).

PATHOS: emotional appeal• A negro mother wept…in her hand, she held one

shoe, from the foot of her dead child (Atlanta Constitution).

ETHOS: ethical appeal• I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV (Excedrin

commercial)

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Parts of an EssayINTRODUCTION• Hook• Map • Thesis

BODY • Reasons• Evidence• Warranting

CONCLUSION • Thesis implication• Prediction or call to action

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Patterns of Organization

COMPARE/CONTRAST• FOCUS ON SIMILARITIES OR HIGHLIGHT

DIFFERENCES

CAUSE/EFFECT• INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF SOMETHING OR

LOOK FOR AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED.

PROBLEM/SOLUTION • IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AND LOOK FOR

SOLUTIONS

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