Essentials of Argument

This concise argument text presents a broad range of rhetorical theory while providing the clear explanations and examples to make it accessible to an exceptionally wide range of students.    Essentials of Argument, 3e, contains ten chapters, each accompanied by class exercises and writing assignments.  Students using this text will learn to identify topics of personal and social consequence, to read and form opinions of their own, to analyze a potential audience, and to write persuasive argument papers. Research methods are introduced early, instructing students how to locate, print, and evaluate online materials and avoid plagiarism.  Appendices teach MLA and APA styles, and provide a synopsis of the major ideas about argument in unique Summary Charts.

Table of Contents:
PART I: Understanding Argument and Conducting Research   1 Recognizing Argument and Finding Issues     A Definition of Argument     Why Study Argument?     Recognizing Traditional and Consensual Argument     Evaluating Traditional and Consensual Argument     Distinguish between Ethical and Unethical Argument     What Is Your Personal Style of Argument?     Under What Conditions Does Argument Work Best?        Under What Conditions Does Argument Fail?     Engaging with Issues     Review Questions     ESSAY FOR ANALYSIS:         Chris Piper, "'A' is for 'Absent'"             A student argues against attendance policies in college that penalize students by lowering their grades for excessive absences.   2  The Rhetorical Situation: Understanding Audience and Context     Analyze the Rhetorical Situation When You Read an Argument     Use the Rhetorical Situation When You Write an Argument     Conducting An Audience Analysis     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 1: Rhetorical Situation         Worksheet 2: Audience Analysis     ESSAYS FOR ANALYSIS:         Charles M. Blow, "Welcome to the Club"             The author examines the issue of racial profiling, using facts and personal narrative         Prisna Virasin, "The Barbie Controversy"             This student issue proposal examines the controversy associated with Barbie dolls.   3  Learning More about Issues: Conducting Research     Begin with What You Know     Locating Sources for Research     Evaluate Sources and Select the Best     Create a Bibliography     Survey, Read, and Add Annotations to Your Bibliography     Develop a System for Taking and Organizing Your Notes     Avoid Plagarism     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 3: Research Plan         Worksheet 4: Research Evaluation     ESSAY FOR ANALYSIS:         Angela A. Boatwright, "Human Cloaning: An Annotated Bibliography"             This is a student-written annotated bibliography about human cloning   4  Writing the Exploratory Paper     What Is an Exploratory Paper?     How Do You Write Now?     Prewriting Strategies     Writing the First Draft     Break through Writer's Block     Revise the Draft     How to Write an Exploratory Paper     Submitting Your Paper for Peer Review     Review Questions         Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 5: Exploratory Paper     ESSAYS FOR ANALYSIS:         Jeff D. Opdyke, "Kids and Chores: All Work and No Pay?"             This author considers different perspectives on how to pay children for doing the chores         Prisna Virasin, "The Controversy behind Barbie"             This student-written exploratory paper explains different perspecitves on the Barbie doll controversy   PART II: Using Argument Theory for Reading and Writing   5  The Toulmin Model of Argument: Understanding the Parts    The Parts of an Argument according to the Toulmin Model     Value of the Toulmin model for Reading and Writing Argument     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments     ESSAYS FOR ANALYSIS       Military Advertisement         Practice finding the claim, support, and warrants in an advertisement for joining the military.     Cartoon: The Price of Oranges         Use the Toulmin model to analyze a cartoon     Editorial: Brother, Can You Spare a Word?         This author argues that words and their connotations are important.     Use the Toulmin model to write an analysis         Mohamed T. Diaby Jr., "Toulmin Analysis of the Price of Oranges Cartoon"             This represents a student example of a Toulmin analysis of a cartoon         Richard D. Rieke and Malcolm O. Sillars, "American Value System"             The authors argue that individuals have value systems that can be categorized and, thus, help with an understanding of value warrants.   6  The Types of Claims: Establishing Purpose and Organization     Five Types of Claims     Mixed Claims     Claims and Argument in Real Life Situations     Value of the Claims and the Claim Questions for Reading and Writing Argument     Some Other Preliminary Questions to Help You Develop Your Claim     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 6: Claim Development     ESSAY FOR ANALYSIS         Peg Tyre, "Bringing Up Adolescents"             This author asks, When should adult children start paying their own way?   7 The Types of Proof: Supporting the Claim     The Traditional Categories of Proof     Types of Logical Proofs: Logos     Proofs that Build Credibility: Ethos     Types of Emotional Proof: Pathos     Value of the Proofs for Reading and Writing Argument     Logos, Ethos, and Pathos Communicated through Language and Style     How to Recognize Fallacies     Ethics and Morality in Argument     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 7: Proof and Language Development     ESSAYS FOR ANALYSIS         Anna Quindlen, "Undocumented, Indispensable"             This essay addresses the state of illegal immigration and undocumented workers in the United States         Rush Limbaugh, "Sexual Harassment and the Feminist 'Front'"             This author gives his views on feminism and sexual harassment   8  Writing the Argument Analysis Paper: Review and Synthesis     Reading for the Argument Analysis Paper     Writing the Argument Analysis Paper     Rhetorical Situation for "A Call for Unity: A Letter from Eight White Clergymen" and Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"     Focus Topics to Help You Analyze the Letters     LETTERS FOR ANALYSIS         A Call for Unity: A Letter from Eight White Clergymen             This letter, written by eight white clergymen in Alabama, prompted Martin Luther King Jr's famouse response         Martin Luther King Jr, "Letter from Birmingham Jail"             This is the letter King wrote in jail, justifying his participation in the civil rights movement. It is a classical argument.     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments   PART III: Writing and Presenting Arguments   9  Analyzing and Creating Visual Argument     Recognizing Visual Argument      Why Visual Argument is Convincing: Eight Special Features      Using Argument Theory to Critique Visual Argument      Bias in Visual Argument      Sample Analysis of a Visual Argument      Add Visual Argument to Support Written Argument      Create Visual Arguments that Stand Alone      Class Activities and Writing Assignments          Worksheet 8: Visual Argument Development     VISUAL ARGUMENTS FOR ANALYSIS         Cartoon: Get Out!             A visual argument for analysis         Karen Hernandez, "Never Again"             A student explains and analyzes her visual argument.   Color Portfolio of Visual Arguments and Questions for Dicussion and Writing     Plate 1: Mexican Immigrants Crossing into the United States     Plate 2: Exploring an Issue Through Images: Walling Off Your Enemies: The Long View, 4 Images     Plate 3: Walling Off Your Enemies: The Long View, cont'd; 2 images     Plate 4: The Creation of Adam; Play Ball     Plate 5: Robot with Grappler Holding a Wounded Palestinian; Hands     Plate 6: American Soldiers; 2 images     Plate 7: People and Guns; 2 images     Plate 8: Two Student Examples of Visual Argument: Colalge and Installation   10  Writing the Rogerian Argument Paper     Achiviecing Common Ground in Rogerian Argument     Rogerian Argument as Strategy     Writing Rogerian Argument     Variations of Rogerian Argument     The Advantages and Disadvantages of Rogerian Argument     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments     ESSAYS FOR ANALYSIS         Edward O. Wilson, "The Future of LIfe"             The author describes how to find common ground between two groups who usually disagree         Eric Hartman, "Let Those Who Ride Decide!"             This student Rogerian argument explains the tensions between those who advocate wearing motorcycle helmets and those who resist such a ruling         Elizabeth Nabhan, "Dear Boss"             A student Rogerian argument written in letter form to her boss to try to improve her job-related duties and responsibilities   11  Writing the Researched Position Paper     Classical Organization of Arguments     Classical and Modern Organization     Use Organizational Patterns to Help You Think and Organize     Incorporate Ideas from your Exploratory Paper        How to Match Patterns and Cross-Reference Your Notes     Incorporating Research into Your First Draft     Make Revisions and Prepare the Final Copy     Review Questions     Class Activities and Writing Assignments         Worksheet 9: Invention   Appendix 1:  How to Document Sources Using MLA and APA Styles   How to Document Sources Using MLA Style    MLA: How to Cite Sources in the Body of the Text    MLA: How to Cite Sources in the Works Cited Page  Student Researched Position Paper in MLA Style      Prisna Virasin, "The Big Barbie Controversy"         A researched position paper in MLA style that claims Barbie is neither good nor bad, only a scapegoat. How to Document Sources Using APA Style    APA: How to Cite Sources in the Body of the Text    APA: How to Cite Sources in the References Page   Student Researched Position Paper in APA Style        Darrell D. Greer, "Alaskan Wolf Management"   Appendix 2:  Summary Charts   Trace: The Rhetorical Situation   The Toulmin Model   Types of Claims   Types of Proof and Tests of Validity