Argumentation

*Influences your audience to agree or do (not know).

Components:

1. Proposition: Claim; what the reader should think/do

*This is stated in your thesis.

2. Opposition: The other side

*May not be your audience (Ex: Subliminal Messages)

a. Acknowledge the opposition:

· Who are they?

· What do they believe?

· What are their reasons for believing as they do?

b. Address the opposition:

1. Concession: Admitting you can’t refute a point

Ex: Collins, 39 (2)

2. Refutation: Argue against a point

Ex: McKibben, 306 (¶15)

*This may involve analyzing a fallacy

Ex: Faulty Logic: “Unless you’re a hemorrhoid, get off my a*$.”

3. Rebuttal: Counterpoint against a refutation

*Rebuttal to McKibben’s refutation—Won’t stimulate economy (no tax; not to a profit-making organization).

3. Support: Reasons & evidence to back up your claim

*Kinds of support for each reason:

· Facts and Statistics: Make sure they are solid

· Specific Examples: They must be representative rather than isolated (i.e. Devin Moore)

· Expert Opinion: Must be qualified to speak to issue

*Important: There MUST be a controversy of some sort; there is no argument if everyone agrees.