1. What is an Argument?

2. An argument is a claim or claims an author makes about how things are and/or ought to be.

3. Other words for argument
Claim
Message
Purpose
Thesis
Main point

4. An Argument is supported by evidence

5. Evidence is… Research Statistics Examples Personal Experience
Stories (anecdotes)
Questions

6. What counts as evidence varies according to the context of the argument.

7. Arguments take place in context (historical, societal, political) and are positioned in certain beliefs and assumptions.

8. “Whenever we engage in argumentation, we must do more than examine the topic carefully and construct a sound argument in support of our position. We must also take into account our audience, the specific situation we and they are in, the cultural factors that might affect how an audience responds to a particular argument, even the historical moment we are in as we argue. In short, we always argue within a context—actually, within several contexts simultaneously—and we must consider context if we expect to argue effectively” (Miller, 17). This is true both of the arguments you read and the ones you construct yourself.

9. Consider:
What information does a text give us that might help us determine context?

10. The Rhetorical Situation
Audience
Writer
Subject

11. Aims of an argument: Arguments have aims or goals to inquire
to convince
to persuade
or to negotiate.

12. Organization of an argument
Major Claim (thesis)
Sub-claim (abstract idea, not concrete example)
Evidence
Sub-claim
Concession & Counterargument
You can have as many of these as you want/need

13. Arguments Appeal to…
Ethos
Pathos
Logos

14. Ethos Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker.
An ethos-driven document relies on the reputation of the author.

15. Logos Logos is appeal based on logic or reason.
Documents distributed by companies or corporations are logos-driven. Scholarly documents are also often logos-driven.

16. Pathos Pathos is appeal based on emotion.
Advertisements tend to be pathos-driven.

17. Political Cartoons What is literally happening in the cartoon?
Who or what is the subject of the cartoon?
Identify and contextualize symbols
What is the artist's argument? How do you know?