Proposal Arguments

Practical Proposals

• solve an immediate problem

• narrow, concrete• exact & precise• specifics in its call to

action

Policy Proposals

• broad outline and shape of course

• regional, national & international scope

• weighs positives & negatives

Special Problems

Need for Presence (Ethos): when the reader immediately senses the writer’s words

• engage intellects and emotions (need for pathos)• truth + consistency + experience of argument’s life =

success• accepting judgment vs. acting on that judgment

Ok, How?

• Appeal directly to audience’s emotions:

details, brief scenes, compelling examples

• Show the seriousness of the problem/

consequences of inaction

• Use figurative language, metaphor, analogy

to make vivid and real

In addition

Law of Inertia: tendency of all things to remain at rest if

possible, or

“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

• Writer has “burden of proof”

• Base argument not on present evils, but evils of

inaction/lost potential

And…

Difficulty in Predicting

• X, in the future, will cause Y, is difficult

• All that can go wrong in causal argument...

Difficulty in Evaluating

• Can’t be measured/can’t be ignored

• Benefits for whom?• Cost-benefit

analysis

Developing the Proposal

3 part structure:

1) description of problem (definition/history)

2) proposed solution

3) justification for proposed solution (causes/effects)

note: proposals often

include “because” clauses

Alternate structure

1) Identify the problem (definition/history)

2) Describe the reasons for the problem

(causes & effects)

3) Propose the solution

4) Justify the solution (reasons why it will work)

• Gain reader’s understanding:

what are the consequences, benefits

• Give presence: how does the problem

affect people?

Show the Specifics of the Proposal

-- Stress the feasibility of the solution …including

costs

-- Show how the proposal will solve the problem

(partially or wholly)

-- “Listen” to skeptics and refute

Justification: Convincing the Audience

-- clarity of proposal

-- feasibility of implementation

-- persuasive reasons

Examples

We should do X … because X will lead to good consequences

Ex: Insurance companies should pay for regular children’s wellness care (proposal claim)…

because paying now might save more extensive

medical costs in the future (causal claim)

Ex: Taxpayer funding for Clean Elections candidates

should be withdrawn (proposal claim)…

because the government should only be involved in

administration of elections, not funding of candidates

(intended audience opposes government involvement)

Ex: Taxpayer funding for Clean Elections candidates

should be continue (proposal claim)…

because the government should promote

opportunities for all candidates desiring to run,

regardless of wealth

(intended audience encourages government involvement and

open elections)

Generating Reasons

• We should (should not) do X because X

leads to these good (bad)

consequences: ___________,

______________, ______________,

___________ ...