• Emmitt Smith Video: Just for Men

1. What is this clip saying about: aging, sex, desirability (i.e. what makes someone attractive), gender roles, and success?

2. Is the argument successful? If so, why?

3. Is it lying? Yes or no? How much do we buy into these types of arguments?

Where can they be found?

Shared Meaning: knowing your audience.

Understanding audience’s values but also shared understanding about cultural metaphors.

Even short commercials can have a strong argument.

What information do you need to understand this commercial?

WHAT IS ARGUMENT?

WHEN EXAMINING OR CREATING ARGUMENTS, PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ARGUMENT’S SUCCESS.

What does it mean to be “a patriot” in

America?What does “drinking the

Kool-Aid” mean?

Activity: Think-Pair-Share: What essential argument is each of these is making?

• Campaign Video: Daisy Girl

1. What argument is this video making?

2. How is it trying to persuade?

• The danger of “pathos” based papers

• Errors in logic: the logical fallacy and failure to create credibility with the reader

LOGIC AND CREDIBILITY

• Shared Meaning

• Background Knowledge

• Logic and credibility

Any Questions?

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

TAKE-HOME ESSAY ASSIGNMENTENGLISH 475BARLEY/BEACH/COTTON/FISHER

Avoiding Fallacy in Argument

Background: Politics and advertising. What do these two things have in common? They seek to argue with us, and to win us over to “their” side—whatever side that may be. Like no time before in human history, we are everyday bombarded with arguments, packaged in every way conceivable and hurled at us through every media imaginable.

Assignment: One of the most creative and commonplace of all arguments takes the form of the humble bumper sticker or TV campaign ad. Bumper stickers and political ads often display some of the most fierce, extreme political views you’ll find anywhere. The views presented in these stickers and TV spots are, usually, stunning examples of logical fallacy (found in your Engl. 475 textbook, pg. 601). Fallacies, as we discussed in class, are argumentative strategies based on lies and half-truths. While often quite successful, these strategies have no place in a formal, academic argument. Choosing the (classroom appropriate) political bumper sticker or TV ad of your choice, analyze the fallacious argument(s) taking place in the sticker you have chosen, focusing on how these flawed arguments are functioning in the sticker or ad’s argument. Finally, re-write a thoughtful, extensive 2 page (minimum) political statement in support of the stand your bumper sticker or TV advertisement was taking, free of any logical fallacies. As this statement will no doubt require substantial outside research, you must use at least three credible sources (remember—no blogs, no Wikipedia), and cite them both throughout the paper in in-text citations and on an MLA Works Cited page.

This essay assignment calls for you to write a typed, double spaced, 12 pt. font composition of a total 4 full pages in length. To be accepted for full credit, rough drafts must include a WC tutoring session slip and an image of your sticker complete with your annotations, or the notes you took when reviewing your TV advertisement, as well as a YouTube link to the ad, if possible. Please, use proper MLA formatting throughout your essay. Among other places, myself and the Writing Center included, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent online resource for all MLA-related questions. Google “Purdue OWL” to find it.

All students must have their sticker or ad reviewed and approved by me before turning in the rough draft. When writing in support of your chosen cause, and when discussing any opposing viewpoints, I expect all students to write passionately, but respectfully: any disrespectful discourse (slang language, rude or ignorant comments) will not be tolerated, and will count against your grade. This is inviolable and subject to my discretion. As is the case with all your work, please contact me should you have any questions or concerns.