For Argument's Sake: A Guide to Writing Effective Arguments

by Mayberry, Katherine J.

• ISBN13: 9780321014672
• ISBN10: 0321014677
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-07-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Structured around three major phases of writing -- focusing, supporting, and reviewing -- this book satisfies the practical needs of beginning and advanced student writers seeking to perfect their skills. The new edition features coverage of electronic research and resources for supporting arguments.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
An Introduction to Argument	1	(8)
An Extended Definition	1	(2)
The Classes of Argument	3	(1)
Argument Through Image	4	(1)
The Argument Process	4	(3)
Forming the Argument	5	(1)
Supporting the Claim	6	(1)
Reviewing the Argument	6	(1)
Conclusion	7	(2)
Summary: An Introduction to Argument	7	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (1.1)	8	(1)
Where Writing Begins: Motives and Audience	9	(9)
Motives For Writing	9	(3)
The Value of Dissonance	10	(1)
Writing Arguments That Are Meaningful to You	11	(1)
Activities (2.1)	12	(1)
The Importance of Audience	12	(6)
Who Is the Audience?	12	(2)
Activities (2.2)	14	(1)
Why Will the Audience Read the Argument?	15	(1)
Activities (2.3)	15	(1)
What Should the Audience Be Able to Do After Reading the Argument?	16	(1)
Activities (2.4)	16	(1)
Summary: Where Writing Begins	17	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (2.5)	17	(1)
The Claim	18	(18)
How Claims Work	18	(5)
Finding a Claim	19	(2)
Keeping Your Working Claim Flexible	21	(1)
Activities (3.1)	22	(1)
Positioning the Claim	23	(2)
Claim Stated Up Front	23	(1)
Claim Stated at the End of the Argument	24	(1)
Unstated Claim in an Argument	24	(1)
Activities (3.2)	24	(1)
Classifying Your Claim	25	(11)
Factual Claims	25	(2)
Activities (3.3)	27	(1)
Causal Claims	27	(1)
Activities (3.4)	28	(1)
Evaluations	29	(1)
Activities (3.5)	30	(1)
Recommendations	31	(1)
Activities (3.6)	32	(1)
Combination Claims	33	(1)
Activities (3.7)	34	(1)
Summary: The Claim	35	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (3.8)	35	(1)
An Argument's Support	36	(14)
Some Varieties of Support	37	(4)
Secondary Claims	37	(1)
Activities (4.1)	38	(1)
Comparisons	38	(1)
Appeals to Authority	38	(1)
Appeals to Audience Needs and Values	38	(1)
Activities (4.2)	39	(1)
Addressing the Counterargument	39	(2)
Arranging Your Argument's Support	41	(2)
Activities (4.3)	42	(1)
Definitions	43	(7)
When to Define	44	(1)
Types of Definitions	45	(3)
Activities (4.4)	48	(1)
Summary: An Argument's Support	48	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (4.5)	49	(1)
Making Reasonable Arguments: Formal and Informal Logic	50	(15)
Formal Logic	50	(7)
Induction	51	(1)
Deduction	52	(4)
Activities (5.1)	56	(1)
The Toulmin Model: A Modern Variant of Formal Logic	57	(2)
Activities (5.2)	59	(1)
Informal Fallacies	59	(6)
Ad Hominem Argument	60	(1)
Ad Populum Argument	60	(1)
Circular Argument	60	(1)
Distraction	60	(1)
Either-or Argument	60	(1)
Emotive Language	61	(1)
False Analogy	61	(1)
Hasty Generalization	61	(1)
Non Sequitur	61	(1)
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc	62	(1)
Slippery Slope	62	(1)
Strawperson Argument	62	(1)
Activities (5.3)	63	(1)
Summary: Making Reasonable Arguments: Formal and Informal Logic	63	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (5.4)	64	(1)
Arguing Facts	65	(25)
What is a Fact?	65	(2)
Supporting Facts Reported by Primary and Secondary Sources	67	(3)
Evaluating Print Sources	67	(1)
Evaluating Electronic Sources	68	(1)
Citing the Source in Your Text	69	(1)
Activities (6.1)	69	(1)
Supporting Personally Experienced Facts	70	(2)
Describing the Experience	70	(1)
Establishing Your Own Credibility	71	(1)
Supporting Factual Generalizations	72	(3)
Applying the Principles of Induction	72	(3)
Activities (6.2)	75	(1)
Statistics	75	(4)
Activities (6.3)	78	(1)
Summary: Arguing Facts	78	(1)
Three Sample Factual Arguments	79	(11)
Suggestions for Writing (6.4)	88	(2)
Arguing Cause	90	(23)
Determining Cause	90	(5)
Brainstorming for Possible Causes	91	(1)
Activities (7.1)	92	(1)
Necessary and Sufficient Causes	92	(1)
Identifying Sufficient Causes	93	(1)
Applying the Toulmin Model	94	(1)
Activities (7.2)	94	(1)
Distinguishing Among Sufficient Causes	95	(2)
Method of Agreement	96	(1)
Method of Difference	96	(1)
Method of Proportional Correlation	96	(1)
Activities (7.3)	97	(1)
Causal Chains	97	(1)
Contributing Factors	98	(1)
Activities (7.4)	98	(1)
Summary: Determining Cause	99	(1)
Supporting Causal Claims	99	(4)
Establishing Factuality	100	(1)
Identifying an Acceptable Motivation	100	(1)
Describing the Process of Validation	100	(2)
Qualifying Your Argument	102	(1)
Activities (7.5)	103	(1)
Summary: Supporting Causal Claims	103	(1)
Arguing Effects	103	(4)
Determining and Supporting a Probable Effect	104	(2)
Activities (7.6)	106	(1)
Summary: Determining and Arguing a Probable Effect	107	(1)
Two Sample Causal Arguments	107	(6)
Suggestions for Writing (7.7)	112	(1)
Arguing Evaluations	113	(26)
Evaluative Subjects and Terms	113	(1)
Activities (8.1)	114	(1)
Establishing The Definition of the Evaluative Term	114	(4)
Presenting the Definition	115	(1)
Activities (8.2)	116	(1)
Arguing the Definition	116	(1)
Ranking the Qualities in Your Definition	117	(1)
Activities (8.3)	118	(1)
Arguing the Evaluation	118	(2)
Testing Your Evaluation Through the Syllogism	119	(1)
Activities (8.4)	120	(1)
Further Methods Of Supporting Evaluations	120	(1)
Identification of Effect	120	(1)
Appeal to Authority	120	(1)
Comparison	121	(1)
Activities (8.5)	121	(1)
The Varieties Of Evaluations	121	(10)
Ethical Evaluations	121	(2)
Activities (8.6)	123	(1)
Aesthetic Evaluations	123	(2)
Activities (8.7)	125	(1)
Functional Evaluations	125	(1)
Activities (8.8)	126	(1)
Interpretations	126	(4)
Activities (8.9)	130	(1)
Summary: Arguing Evaluations	130	(1)
Sample Ethical Evaluation	131	(3)
Sample Interpretation	134	(5)
Suggestions for Writing (8.10)	138	(1)
Arguing Recommendations	139	(21)
Audience Needs and Values	140	(3)
When Your Values Differ from Assumed Reader Values	140	(2)
Activities (9.1)	142	(1)
Recommendations Emphasizing the Present	143	(2)
Establishing the Current Situation	143	(1)
Evaluating the Current Situation	143	(1)
Applying the Toulmin Model	144	(1)
Activities (9.2)	144	(1)
Recommendations Emphasizing the Future	145	(7)
Presenting the Recommendation	145	(2)
Activities (9.3)	147	(1)
Arguing the Effects of Your Recommendation	148	(1)
Activities (9.4)	148	(1)
Judging Effects in Terms of Assumed Needs and Values	149	(1)
Applying the Toulmin Model	150	(1)
Activities (9.5)	151	(1)
Recommendations that Consider Present and Future	152	(1)
Summary: Arguing Recommendations	152	(1)
Two Sample Recommendations	153	(7)
Suggestions for Writing (9.6)	159	(1)
Writing and Image	160	(11)
The Role of Voice	160	(3)
The Importance of Ethos	161	(1)
Activities (10.1)	162	(1)
The Virtues and Limitations of Plain Writing	163	(1)
Figures Of Speech	164	(2)
Some Cautions About Figures of Speech	165	(1)
Activities (10.2)	166	(1)
Connotative Language and Slanting	166	(2)
Activities (10.3)	167	(1)
The Music of Language	168	(3)
Activities (10.4)	169	(1)
Summary: Writing and Image	170	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (10.5)	170	(1)
Introductions and Conclusions	171	(12)
Introductions	171	(4)
Strategies for General Introductions	172	(1)
Introductions in Professional Writing	173	(1)
General Suggestions About Introductions	174	(1)
Activities (11.1)	175	(1)
Conclusions	175	(3)
Types of Conclusions	176	(2)
Summaries	178	(5)
Activities (11.2)	180	(1)
Summary: Introductions and Conclusions	181	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (11.3)	181	(2)
Revising	183	(14)
Writing a First Draft, Revising, and Editing	183	(1)
Some Suggestions for Successful Revising	184	(4)
Suggestion 1: Give Yourself Some Breathing Space	184	(1)
Suggestion 2: Avoid the Red Pen	185	(1)
Suggestion 3: Review Your Original Purpose and Audience	185	(1)
Suggestion 4: Review Your Organization	185	(1)
Suggestion 5: Review Your Argument's Coherence	186	(1)
Suggestion 6: Review Your Style	186	(1)
Suggestion 7: Review Your Argument for Faulty Reasoning	187	(1)
Suggestion 8: Use a Word Processor	187	(1)
Activities (12.1)	187	(1)
Summary: Revising	188	(1)
An Example of Revision	188	(9)
Activities (12.2)	194	(1)
Suggestions for Writing (12.3)	195	(2)
Credits	197	(2)
Index	199