Good Reasons: Researching and Writing Effective Arguments, MLA Update

Engaging and accessible to all readers, Good Reasons is a brief, highly readable introduction to argument by two of the country's foremost rhetoricians.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Persuading with Good Reasons  What do we mean by argument?                        What does “argument” mean for college writers?            How can you argue responsibly?            How can you argue respectfully?   PART 1 READING AND DISCOVERING ARGUMENTS   1 Why Argue?              Why do people write arguments?             Why do some arguments succeed?                     What are the goals of arguments?                      What are rhetorical appeals?      Finding Good Reasons               Rachel Carson, The Obligation to Endure              2 Reading Arguments Become a critical reader            Read actively Recognize fallacies        Respond as a reader      Finding good reasons       3 Finding Arguments                  Find arguments in everyday conversations                       Find a topic that interests you                 Find a claim by exploring                        Find a claim by reading                          Find good reasons                      Find evidence to support good reasons    Finding good reasons       4 Drafting and Revising Arguments        State and evaluate your thesis    Think about your readers           Organize your argument             Write an engaging title and introduction               Write a strong conclusion Evaluate your draft        Respond to the writing of others             Edit and proofread carefully       Finding good reasons       PART 2 ANALYZING ARGUMENTS   5 Analyzing Written Arguments                          What is rhetorical analysis?                    Build a rhetorical analysis           Analyze the rhetorical features   Analyze the rhetorical context                Write a rhetorical analysis Barbara Jordan, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment         T. Jonathan Ford (student), An Argument of Reason and Passion: Barbara Jordan’s “Statement on the Articles of Impeachment”  Steps to writing a rhetorical analysis         6 Analyzing Visual Arguments               What is a visual argument?                    Analyze visual persuasion             Analyze visual evidence                         Build a visual analysis    Write a visual analysis   Angela Yamashita (student), Got Roddick?         Steps to writing a visual analysis     PART 3 WRITING ARGUMENTS   7 Options for Arguments                        Use different approaches to construct arguments                                    Be aware of your goals for argument      Finding good reasons   8 Definition Arguments                          Understand how definition arguments work                     Recognize kinds of definitions     Build a definition argument Finding good reasons             Scott McCloud, Setting the Record Straight         Chris Nguyen (student), Speech Doesn’t Have to Be Pretty to Be Protected        Steps to writing a definition argument        9 Causal Arguments                  Understand how causal arguments work                         Find causes                   Build a causal argument Finding good reasons             Annie Murphy Paul, The Real Marriage Penalty Emily Raine, Why Should I Be Nice to You? Coffee Shops and the Politics of Good Service          Steps to writing a causal argument            10 Evaluation Arguments             Understand how evaluation arguments work                   Recognize kinds of evaluations               Build an evaluation argument      Finding good reasons     Michael Eric Dyson, Gangsta Rap and American Culture             Rashaun Giddens (student), Stop Loss or “Loss of Trust”                        Steps to writing an evaluation argument    11 Narrative Arguments                                    Understand how narrative arguments work                     Recognize kinds of narrative arguments              Build a narrative argument         Finding good reasons     Leslie Marmon Silko, The Border Patrol State                 Dagoberto Gilb, My Landlady’s Yard     Steps to writing a narrative argument        12 Rebuttal Arguments                          Understand how rebuttal arguments work                       Recognize the tactics of rebuttal arguments                     Build a rebuttal argument           Finding good reasons     Dan Stein, Crossing the Line      Gregory Rodriguez, Illegal Immigrants—They’re Money  Steps to writing a rebuttal argument          13 Proposal Arguments                          Understand how proposal arguments work                      Recognize components of proposal arguments                 Build a proposal argument          Finding good reasons     Thomas Homer-Dixon and S. Julio Friedmann, Coal in a Nice Shade of Green      Kim Lee (student), Let’s Make It a Real Melting Pot with Presidential Hopes for All        Steps to writing a proposal argument           PART 4 DESIGNING AND PRESENTING ARGUMENTS 14 Designing Arguments            Start with your readers  Know when to use images and graphics  Compose and edit images           Create tables, charts, and graphs            Design pages for print    Design pages for the Web            15 Presenting Arguments           Plan a presentation          Design effective visuals   Give a memorable presentation        PART 5 RESEARCHING ARGUMENTS   16 Planning Research    Analyze the research task          Find a subject    Ask a research question             Gather information about the subject       Draft a working thesis     17 Finding Sources                    Search with keywords   Find books        Find journal articles                    Find Web sources            18 Evaluating and Recording Sources     Evaluate print sources    Find information to cite print sources Evaluate database sources             Find information to cite a database source           Evaluate Web sources   Find information to cite a Web source       19 Writing the Research Paper   Review your goals and thesis     Determine your contribution       Determine your main points        Avoid plagiarism Quote sources without plagiarizing          Summarize and paraphrase sources without plagiarizing   Incorporate quotations Incorporate visuals          20 Documenting Sources in MLA Style  Elements of MLA documentation MLA in-text citations     MLA works-cited list: Books MLA works-cited list: Periodicals MLA works-cited list: Library database sources  MLA works-cited list: Other online sources         MLA works-cited list: Other sources      Brian Witkowski (student), Need a Cure for Tribe Fever? How about a Dip in the Lake?    21 Documenting Sources in APA Style   Elements of APA documentation            In-text citations in APA style APA references list: Books APA references list: Library database sources APA references list: Periodicals APA references list: Other online sources APA references list: Other sources   Appendix: A Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism      Glossary Index