Good Reasons : Researching and Writing Effective Arguments

by Faigley, Lester; Selzer, Jack

• ISBN13: 9780321513908
• ISBN10: 0321513908
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Engaging and accessible to all students,Good Reasonsis a brief, very readable introduction to argument by two of the country's foremost rhetoricians. By stressing the rhetorical situation and audience, this rhetoric avoids complicated schemes and terminology in favor of providing students with the practical means to find "good reasons" for the positions they want to advocate to their audiences.Good Reasonshelps students write and understand various types of arguments, including visual as well as verbal arguments. Supporting the authors'instruction are numerous readings by professional and student writers and over 50 photographs. Good Reasonsis distinctive in providing the most thorough coverage of rhetorical analysis and visual analysis. It has a new emphasis on visual argument throughout that responds to the need for greater visual literacy in a media-saturated culture. Good Reasons is also distinctive in beginning with why people write arguments.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xvii
Introduction: Persuading with Good Reasons	p. 1
What Do We Mean by Argument?	p. 1
What Does Argument Mean for College Writers?	p. 2
How Can You Argue Responsibly?	p. 3
How Can You Argue Respectfully?	p. 4
Reading and Discovering Arguments
Why Argue?	p. 9
Why Do People Write Arguments?	p. 9
Finding Good Reasons	p. 10
Why Do Some Arguments Succeed?	p. 12
What Are the Goals of Arguments?	p. 16
What Are Rhetorical Appeals?	p. 17
Rachel Carson, The Obligation to Endure	p. 19
Reading Arguments	p. 22
Read Critically	p. 22
Read Actively	p. 22
Finding Good Reasons	p. 24
Recognize Fallacies	p. 26
Respond as a Writer	p. 28
Finding Arguments	p. 30
Find Arguments in Everyday Conversations	p. 30
Find a Topic that Interests You	p. 33
Find a Claim by Exploring	p. 37
Finding Good Reasons	p. 39
Find a Claim by Reading	p. 40
Find Good Reasons	p. 44
Find Evidence to Support Good Reasons	p. 50
Drafting and Revising Arguments	p. 52
State and Evaluate Your Thesis	p. 52
Think about Your Readers	p. 54
Finding Good Reasons	p. 55
Organize Your Argument	p. 57
Write an Engaging Title and Introduction	p. 58
Write a Strong Conclusion	p. 59
Evaluate Your Draft	p. 60
Respond to the Writing of Others	p. 62
Edit and Proofread Carefully	p. 64
Analyzing Arguments
Analyzing Written Arguments	p. 69
What Is Rhetorical Analysis?	p. 69
Build a Rhetorical Analysis	p. 69
Analyze the Rhetorical Features	p. 70
Analyze the Rhetorical Context	p. 75
Write a Rhetorical Analysis	p. 79
Barbara Jordan, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment	p. 80
T. Jonathan Jackson (student), An Argument of Reason and Passion: Barbara Jordan's "Statement on the Articles of Impeachment"	p. 84
Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis	p. 87
Analyzing Visual Arguments	p. 90
What Is a Visual Argument?	p. 90
Analyze Visual Persuasion	p. 92
Analyze Visual Evidence	p. 93
Build a Visual Analysis	p. 96
Write a Visual Analysis	p. 100
Angela Yamashita (student), Got Roddick?	p. 101
Steps to Writing a Visual Analysis	p. 104
Writing Arguments
Putting Good Reasons into Action	p. 109
Use Different Approaches to Construct an Argument	p. 110
Finding Good Reasons	p. 111
Definition Arguments	p. 113
Understand How Definition Arguments Work	p. 113
Recognize Kinds of Definitions	p. 114
Finding Good Reasons	p. 117
Build a Definition Argument	p. 118
Scott McCloud, Setting the Record Straight	p. 121
Chris Nguyen (student), Speech Doesn't Have to Be Pretty to Be Protected	p. 129
Steps to Writing a Definition Argument	p. 134
Causal Arguments	p. 137
Understand How Causal Arguments Work	p. 137
Find Causes	p. 138
Finding Good Reasons	p. 140
Build a Causal Argument	p. 142
Annie Murphy Paul, The Real Marriage Penalty	p. 144
Emily Raine, Why Should I Be Nice to You? Coffee Shops and the Politics of Good Service	p. 147
Steps to Writing a Causal Argument	p. 153
Evaluation Arguments	p. 156
Understand How Evaluation Arguments Work	p. 156
Recognize Kinds of Evaluations	p. 157
Finding Good Reasons	p. 159
Build an Evaluation Argument	p. 160
Michael Eric Dyson, Gangsta Rap and American Culture	p. 162
Rashaun Giddens (student), Stop Loss or "Loss of Trust"	p. 163
Steps to Writing an Evaluation Argument	p. 174
Narrative Arguments	p. 177
Understand How Narrative Arguments Work	p. 178
Recognize Kinds of Narrative Arguments	p. 179
Finding Good Reasons	p. 180
Build a Narrative Argument	p. 181
Leslie Marmon Silko, The Border Patrol State	p. 182
Dagoberto Gilb, My Landlady's Yard	p. 187
Steps to Writing a Narrative Argument	p. 190
Rebuttal Arguments	p. 192
Understand How Rebuttal Arguments Work	p. 193
Finding Good Reasons	p. 195
Recognize Kinds of Rebuttal Arguments	p. 196
Build a Rebuttal Argument	p. 199
Dan Stein, Crossing the Line	p. 200
Gregory Rodriguez, Illegal Immigrants-They're Money	p. 202
Steps to Writing a Rebuttal Argument	p. 205
Proposal Arguments	p. 210
Understand How Proposal Arguments Work	p. 211
Recognize Components of Proposal Arguments	p. 212
Finding Good Reasons	p. 213
Build a Proposal Argument	p. 214
Thomas Homer-Dixon and S. Julio Friedmann, Coal in a Nice Shade of Green	p. 216
Kim Lee (student), Let's Make It a Real Melting Pot with Presidential Hopes for All	p. 219
Steps to Writing a Proposal Argument	p. 223
Designing and Presenting Arguments
Designing Arguments	p. 229
Think About Your Readers	p. 229
Know When to Use Images and Graphics	p. 230
Compose and Edit Images	p. 231
Create Tables, Charts, and Graphs	p. 234
Design Pages for Print	p. 235
Design Pages for the Web	p. 236
Presenting Arguments	p. 238
Plan in Advance	p. 238
Design Effective Visuals	p. 240
Focus on Your Delivery	p. 242
Researching Arguments
Planning Research	p. 247
Analyze the Research Task	p. 247
Find a Subject	p. 247
Ask a Research Question	p. 249
Gather Information About the Subject	p. 249
Draft a Working Thesis	p. 252
Finding Sources	p. 254
Search with Keywords	p. 255
Find Books	p. 256
Find Journal Articles	p. 256
Find Web Sources	p. 259
Evaluating and Recording Sources	p. 263
Evaluate Print Sources	p. 263
Find Information to Cite Print Sources	p. 264
Evaluate Database Sources	p. 266
Find Information to Cite a Database Source	p. 266
Evaluate Web Sources	p. 267
Find Information to Cite a Web Source	p. 269
Writing the Research Paper	p. 270
Review Your Goals and Thesis	p. 270
Determine Your Contribution	p. 270
Determine Your Main Points	p. 271
Avoid Plagiarism	p. 271
Quote Sources Without Plagiarizing	p. 273
Summarize and Paraphrase Sources Without Plagiarizing	p. 274
Incorporate Quotations	p. 276
Incorporate Visuals	p. 278
Documenting Sources in MLA Style	p. 280
Elements of MLA Documentation	p. 280
MLA In-Text Citations	p. 284
MLA Works-Cited List: Books	p. 287
MLA Works-Cited List: Periodicals	p. 291
MLA Works-Cited List: Library Database Sources	p. 293
MLA Works-Cited List: Online Sources	p. 293
MLA Works-Cited List: Other Sources	p. 295
Sample MLA Paper: Brian Witkowski (student), Need a Cure for Tribe Fever? How About a Dip in the Lake?	p. 297
Documenting Sources in APA Style	p. 304
Elements of APA Documentation	p. 304
APA In-Text Citations	p. 307
APA References List: Books	p. 309
APA References List: Periodicals	p. 310
APA References List: Library Database Sources	p. 311
APA References List: Online Sources	p. 311
APA References List: Other Sources	p. 312
A Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism	p. 313
Glossary	p. 321
Index	p. 325
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.