Elements of Argument : A Text and Reader

by Annette T. Rottenberg; Donna Haisty Winchell

• ISBN13: 9780312431266
• ISBN10: 0312431260
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-07-12
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Have you ever wished you could respond with skill and confidence to an argument you've read or heard? Have you ever wanted to present your ideas more forcefully? To be more logical and persuasive? To change people's minds? This book can help you do so. Elements of Argument presents a clear and effective method for learning to think and argue better, along with many thought-provoking essays on current topics. By reading these selections you'll be able to educate yourself on the issues as you sharpen your critical reading and thinking skills. Hundreds of thousands of students agree: Elements of Argument works. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface for Instructors	p. v
The Structure of Argument	p. 1
Understanding Argument	p. 3
The Nature of Argument	p. 3
Why Study Argument?	p. 6
Why Write?	p. 8
The Terms of Argument	p. 9
The Audience	p. 12
Assignments for Understanding Argument	p. 22
Responding to Argument	p. 25
Responding as a Critical Reader	p. 26
Comprehending Arguments	p. 30
Evaluating Arguments	p. 31
Responding as a Writer	p. 39
Responding as a Critical Listener	p. 44
Responding to a Visual Argument	p. 47
Responding Online	p. 56
Documenting Your Sources	p. 58
Assignments for Responding to Argument	p. 60
Definition	p. 62
The Purposes of Definition	p. 62
Defining the Terms in Your Argument	p. 64
Methods for Defining Terms	p. 66
The Definition Essay	p. 71
Taking the Debate Online	p. 102
Assignments for Understanding Definition	p. 102
Claims	p. 104
Claims of Fact	p. 104
Claims of Value	p. 113
Claims of Policy	p. 122
Taking the Debate Online	p. 154
Assignments for Understanding Claims	p. 155
Support	p. 157
Types of Support: Evidence and Appeals to Needs and Values	p. 157
Evidence	p. 160
Evaluation of Evidence	p. 166
Appeals to Needs and Values	p. 173
Evaluation of Appeals to Needs and Values	p. 179
Taking the Debate Online	p. 217
Assignments for Understanding Support	p. 218
Warrants	p. 220
What Are Warrants?	p. 220
Types of Warrants	p. 232
Taking the Debate Online	p. 265
Assignments for Understanding Warrants	p. 266
Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies	p. 269
Induction	p. 270
Deduction	p. 274
A Note on the Syllogism and the Toulmin Model	p. 283
Common Fallacies	p. 285
Taking the Debate Online	p. 310
Assignments for Understanding Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies	p. 310
Language and Thought	p. 314
The Power of Words	p. 314
Connotation	p. 316
Slanting	p. 319
Picturesque Language	p. 330
Concrete and Abstract Language	p. 331
Short Cuts	p. 335
Taking the Debate Online	p. 368
Assignments for Understanding Language and Thought	p. 369
Writing, Researching, and Presenting Arguments	p. 371
Writing an Argumentative Paper	p. 373
Finding an Appropriate Topic	p. 373
Defining the Issues	p. 376
Organizing the Material	p. 379
Writing	p. 386
Revising	p. 391
Preparing the Manuscript	p. 392
Researching an Argumentative Paper	p. 394
Getting Started	p. 394
Mapping Research: A Sample Outline	p. 396
Using Sources: Primary Research	p. 396
Using Sources: Secondary Research	p. 398
Evaluating Sources	p. 405
Working with Sources	p. 416
Compiling an Annotated Bibliography	p. 430
MLA System for Citing Publications	p. 431
APA System for Citing Publications	p. 453
Presenting an Argument Orally	p. 466
The Audience	p. 468
Credibility	p. 469
Organization	p. 470
Language	p. 473
Support	p. 475
Presentation Aids	p. 476
Multiple Viewpoints	p. 481
How Far Will We Go to Change Our Body Image?	p. 483
Thinking and Writing about Body Image	p. 512
Taking the Debate Online	p. 513
How Has Terrorism Affected the American Idea of Justice?	p. 514
Thinking and Writing about the Effect of Terrorism on the American Idea of Justice	p. 554
Taking the Debate Online	p. 555
What Is the Future of the Family?	p. 557
Thinking and Writing about the Future of the Family	p. 578
Taking the Debate Online	p. 579
Are Limits on Freedom of Speech Ever Justified?	p. 580
Thinking and Writing about the Limits on Freedom of Speech	p. 597
Taking the Debate Online	p. 598
What Threats to Privacy Exist in the Information Age?	p. 599
Thinking and Writing about Threats to Privacy in the Information Age	p. 627
Taking the Debate Online	p. 628
What Does the Future Hold for Sports?	p. 629
Thinking and Writing about the Future of Sports	p. 655
Taking the Debate Online	p. 656
Have We Become Too Reliant on Standardized Testing?	p. 658
Thinking and Writing about Standardized Testing	p. 690
Taking the Debate Online	p. 691
What Is the Role of Sex and Violence in Popular Culture?	p. 692
Thinking and Writing about Sex and Violence in Popular Culture	p. 729
Taking the Debate Online	p. 730
Classic Arguments	p. 733
Arguing about Literature	p. 817
The Elements of Fiction	p. 818
The Elements of Drama	p. 819
The Elements of Poetry	p. 820
The Cultural Context	p. 822
Choosing What to Write About	p. 823
Guidelines for Writing the Paper	p. 824
Sample Story and Analysis
Sample Play
Sample Poem
Glossary	p. 853
Index of Subjects	p. 857
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