Argumentation: The Art of Civil Advocacy

Argumentation: The Art of Civil Advocacy teaches students the principles of argumentation as a practical way to engage in interpersonal and public deliberation. Authors Larry Underberg and Heather Norton offer a unique approach for creating civil discourse by encouraging students to consider how they argue with others to enhance or diminish opportunities for future dialogue. A variety of everyday examples are provided in the text to demonstrate how well-reasoned argumentation can strengthen communities and create productive citizenship. Students gain a better understanding for the situations, environments, and relationships that form the context for an advocate, and how those factors can influence discourse.

Table of Contents:
LIST OF TABLES PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SECTION I: THE NATURE AND CONTEXT OF ARGUMENT CHAPTER 1 The Process of Argument ARGUING IS PART OF OUR NATURE WHAT IS ARGUMENT? WHY SHOULD WE ARGUE? ARGUING PRODUCTIVELY WHEN NOT TO ARGUE CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 2 Credibility: The Foundation of Responsible Advocacy TYPES OF CREDIBILITY FACTORS AFFECTING AN ADVOCATE’S CREDIBILITY THE ADVOCATE/LISTENER RELATIONSHIP CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 3 External Factors Influencing Argument THE AUDIENCE FIELD AND OCCASION THE LARGER CONVERSATION CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 4 Audience-Based Argument INTERACTING WITH FAMILIAR AUDIENCES UNDERSTANDING UNFAMILIAR AUDIENCES LIMITS OF DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS SECTION II: IDENTIFYING AND MAKING QUALITY ARGUMENTS CHAPTER 5 Discovering Arguments: Narrative Approaches ARGUMENTS AS NARRATIVE NARRATIVE ELEMENTS EVALUATING NARRATIVES CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 6 Discovering Arguments: Stock Issue Approaches QUESTIONS OF FACT QUESTIONS OF VALUE QUESTIONS OF POLICY CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 7 Supporting Arguments WHEN DO I NEED TO USE OUTSIDE SUPPORT? WHY DO I NEED TO USE OUTSIDE SUPPORT? GENERAL EVALUATION OF OUTSIDE SUPPORT CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 8 Types and Tests of Evidence EXAMPLES STATISTICS TESTIMONY CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS SECTION III: EFFECTIVELY PRESENTING ARGUMENTS CHAPTER 9 Language and Style in Argument THE VARIETY OF PERSONAL STYLES STYLE SHOULD REFLECT A CONSTRUCTIVE VIEW OF ARGUMENT STYLE AND CREDIBILITY LANGUAGE AS A COMPONENT OF STYLE CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS CHAPTER 10 Responding to Arguments LISTENING EFFECTIVELY LISTENING FOR RELATIONSHIP AND CONTENT PREPARING TO RESPOND MAKING A RESPONSE CONCLUSION QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION KEY TERMS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES APPENDIX A: THE TOULMIN MODEL APPENDIX B: LOGICAL FALLACIES GLOSSARY NOTES INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHORS

About the Author :
Larry Underberg is a professor of Communication Studies at Southeast Missouri State University.  He received his B.A. from Northern Illinois University, M.A. from Auburn University, and Ph.D. from Penn State University; all in Rhetoric and Public Address.  He has taught Argumentation and Debate for nearly forty years receiving the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the National Educational Debate Association and the “Outstanding Contribution to Argumentation” award from the Central States Communication Association Argumentation and Forensics Division.  In addition to Argumentation, he teaches Political Communication, Persuasion and Social Movements, Rock ‘n Roll and Rebellion and Nonverbal Communication.