1. Class 2 Questions, comments Discussion of Assignment 1 Assign(
Discussion of Assignment 1
Assign
Assignment 3 (start in class on 8/30; due in class on 9/4)
Readings
Gift of Fire: Ch 10 (8/30)
Mary Jean Harrold

2. Quick Quiz Name
What is an argument? Give an example of a dialogue that is not an argument?
What are
types of arguments?
Essential components of an argument?
What is the difference between “truth seeking” and “persuasion” in argumentation?
What does it mean to
Read as a believer?
Read as a doubter?
What are three situations in your life/career that you anticipate (during the next five years) will require you to make an persuasive argument? (list the situation, who will be involved, etc.)
Mary Jean Harrold

3. Argument
Mary Jean Harrold

4. Argument Not a “fight” or a “debate”
The connotation that an argument is a heated disagreement does not apply here
We are not concerned with formal pro-con debates where one position or another is argued.
An argument can be explicit or implicit
Explicit—direct argument with claims and supporting reasoning and evidence.
Implicit—visual image, cartoon, narrative, poem, etc.
Mary Jean Harrold

5. Explicit Argument An argument makes claims that require justification
often in form of a dialogue involving claims and counterclaims
Explicit or implicit, argument has some necessary components
set of two or more conflicting assertions
attempt to resolve the conflict through and appeal to reason (usually backed by evidence).
Mary Jean Harrold

6. Explicit Argument (cont’d)
Argument is both a product and a process
Process—argumentation is a process, often involving a conversation or dialogue.
Product—the product of an argument is a summing up of the contributions or the conclusion
Mary Jean Harrold

7. Explicit Argument (cont’d)
Argument is a balance between truth seeking and persuasion
Truth-seeking—the best solution; an optimal solution
Persuasion—what reasons and evidence that best speak to audience’s values and views
Mary Jean Harrold

8. The Problem of Truth (Truth versus Persuasion)
What’s the balance? (Too much tilt towards persuasion makes argument propaganda)
May have to sacrifice winning a debate in terms of higher goals, Truth and Goodness
Socrates versus the Sophists (Athens, 5th century B.C.)
Socrates—the goal of debate is to rid the world of error
Sophists—Mercenary debaters who relied on any persuasive technique to win. There are no basic assumptions, no fundamental principles, no truths
Mary Jean Harrold

9. The Problem of Truth (Truth versus Persuasion) (cont’d)
But is it better to sometimes win a debate, even if have to lean more towards persuasion than truth-seeking?
And what is truth anyway? Could arguers begin from different basic principles and thus different versions of truth? What is “good” or the “best solution”? That can depend on your starting premises.
Mary Jean Harrold

10. Reading Sympathetically and Critically
To read arguments effectively, adopt a multi-step approach
Read as a believer
Read as a doubter
Consider alternative views, and analyze sources of disagreement
Use disagreement productively to prompt further investigation
“The idea that we should be open to all ideas is very different from the supposition that all ideas are equally valid”
--Lawrence Summers, President, Harvard University
Mary Jean Harrold

11. Reading as a Believer
Practice “empathic listening” (see the world through the author’s eyes)
Requires putting aside your own viewpoint for the moment
For this AND the other steps in reading arguments effectively, you must:
read argument carefully for general meaning.
analyze each paragraph for says and does
A does statement identifies a paragraph’s function
A says statement summarizes the paragraph’s content
Mary Jean Harrold

12. Reading as a Doubter
Whether you tend to agree with the argument or not, you should now read it critically or skeptically
Demand more proof, doubt evidence given, challenge the author’s assumptions and values.
What is the background of the author or his or her sources? What bias is being brought forward?
What are the source of the claims made?
Are alternatives ignored?
Mary Jean Harrold

13. Considering Alternative Views and Analyzing Sources of Disagreement
Since an argument involves two or more conflicting assertions, you must be sure to consider the important disagreements.
Disagreements may be:
-about facts or reality. “Facts” are often not the empirical facts of science, but are often contested.
-about values, beliefs, or assumptions. For example, sometimes these disagreements may manifest themselves as disagreements about definitions (e.g., what is pornography or what is a minority).
Mary Jean Harrold

14. Using Disagreement Productively to Prompt Further Investigation
Disagreement is both a strategy for reading arguments and a bridge towards constructing your own arguments
Seek out sources of facts and more complete versions of alternative (and the current) views.
Determine what values are at stake in the issue and articulate your own values.
Consider ways to synthesize alternative views.
Mary Jean Harrold

15. Successful Argumentation: The Well-Functioning Committee
Committee: A small group seeking the solution to a problem
Committees sometimes get a bad name, but good committees have done some very important work in social, political, and cultural settings
Exercise: University Standards Committee (p. 17 in WA book)
Mary Jean Harrold

16. In-Class Group Organization
Groups will be 4-5 members, and will be different for each discussion
Each group will consist of a
Leader: does not participate in the discussion but facilitates it by ensuring that (1) each member of the group has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion, and (2) the assignment is completed.
Recorder: participates in the discussion, and also records the discussion and prepares required documents/slides/etc. and reports to class, if appropriate
2-3 Members: participate in discussion, etc.
During the semester, each class member will serve as a group Leader and a group Recorder, so volunteer as groups are formed.
At the beginning of the discussion session, identify the Leader and Recorder
Mary Jean Harrold