Rhetorical Patterns & Argumentative Strategies (Project Two)

7/30/2019 Rhetorical Patterns & Argumentative Strategies (Project Two)

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Writing Today

Ch. 21 & 22

RHETORICAL PATTERNS

& ARGUMENTATIVESTRATEGIES


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Definition: Like description, but very preciseuse definitions

to explain an unknown term to your readers.

Ways to use definition:

Word Originwhere did the word come form? How has it come to

mean what it means?

Examplesuseful for explaining idioms. The book cites the phrase

drank the Kool-Aid

Negationexplain something by saying what it is not.

Divisionexplaining various meanings of a word (only when the

multiple meanings are all relevant.

Comparisonbring in similar examples to show how the word youredefining compares and contrasts.

Analogyanalogies can help explain complex terms: the books

example is the analogy of the human circulatory as a city

RHETORICAL PATTERNS: DEFINITION


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Classification allows you to divide objects and people into

groups, so they can be di scussed in greater depth (431). You

can use class ification for a single paragraph or to structure a

larger section of your paper.

To write a classification, WT breaks the process down: 1. List everything that fits into the whole class.

2. Decide on a principle of classification. (how to sort the classes)

3. Sort into major and minor groups. (Sort your list using the

principle. Ideally there everything you came up with in your list will fit

neatly into only one category.

RHETORICAL PATTERNS: CLASSIFICATION


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When explaining causes and effects, identify both causes

and effects and then explain how and why specific causes led

to those effects (433).

Sometimes you will present causes and ef fects in a

straightforward waywhen the how and why are clear (i.e .factual/obvious). EX: A tornado hit Joplin, MO. The town was

destroyed.

RHETORICAL PATTERNS: CAUSE & EFFECT


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When you present arguable causes and effects, youll need to

make sure your presentation of the how and the why is as

straightforward and understandable as possible. This is a

complexcause and effect relationship, and you dont want

your readers to get confused or feel mis lead. WT uses anexample of the current scientific theor y of tornado formation

to make the presentation of cause and e ffect clear, the writer

uses a narrative rhetorical pattern to explain the theory. That

means they tell the story of a tornado from formation

onward in a chronological order.

RHETORICAL PATTERNS: CAUSE & EFFECT


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Basical ly , to

use this

rhetor ical

pattern you

make a wri t ten

venn diagram.

Before wri t ing

a comparison,

you should

sketch out a

venn diagram

and f i l l i t out .

RHETORICAL

PATTERNS:

COMPARISON

& CONTRAST


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Most importantly, use multiple rhetorical patterns in your

writing in different combinations to make it interesting!

(Interesting for you to write, and in teresting for your reader to

read. Everyone wins.)

COMING UP: Argumentative strategies--youll notice that the

following strategies for your entire argument are very similar

to the previous rhetorical patterns that you can use to

structure the info used in your paper.

MIXING!


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Remember, argumentsin our context do notconnote fighting oversomething sil ly, likewhether or not yourfriend likes JustinBieber.

We are dealing witharguable claims, whichexist in the broad area

between personaljudgments (I


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In your writing youll want to attempt to define an arguable

claimremember the purpose of our papers is to give you

practice collecting and synthesizing information in order to

form your own well-supported and well-reasoned conclusion. A

claim is arguable if it cant be proven factually true or false,and neither the true nor false side of the argument is based

solely on personal opinion.

Your goal in inventing your argument and drafting your paper

is to support your position to the best of your ability (441).

But you also need to keep other viewpoints in mind. Th inkingabout people who might disagree with your view as you write

will help you clarify your ideas and make them stronger by

building in defenses.

WHAT MAKES FOR AN ARGUABLE CLAIM


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How would you

support this thesis?

The few benefits

offered by Auto-Tune

software are highly

outweighed by its

negative

repercussions on

music culture.

EXAMPLE PROJECT: AUTO-TUNE


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DEFINITION A pregnant woman who

chooses to smoke is achild abuser who needsto be stopped before shefurther harms herunborn child.

CAUSATION Pregnant mothers who

choose to smoke are

responsible for anunacceptable number ofbirth defects inchildren.

EVALUATION Although both are

dangerous, drinkingalcohol in moderationwhile pregnant is lessdamaging to an unbornchild than smoking inmoderation.

RECOMMENDATION We must help pregnant

women to stop smokingby developing smoking-cessation programs thatare specifically targetedtowards this population.

4 SOURCES OF ARGUABLE CLAIMS( R E M E M B E R E AA C H . 1 )


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Good old ethos,

pathos, and

logos. Al l three

of these

argumentat ive

strategies can

be used to

support your

posi t ion.

REASON,

AUTHORITY,EMOTION


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A good argument will employ all three strategiesthereby

leaving no possible opportunity for persuading your audience

untouched. However, youll probably find that one mode of

argument is more useful than the other two depending on

your topic. Consult WT Ch . 22 p. 444 -446 for examples of E, P, L in

action.

E, P, L


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Avoid illogical fallacies by hunting out the weak spots in your

argument and patching those holes.

IFs occur for three major reasons:

A false or weak premisea position based on faulty reasoning,

authorities that are not credible, comparisons that are inappropriate Irrelevancebringing up issues that are beside the point or

distracting by being inflammatory

Ambiguityany time the writer intentionally clouds the issue to

confuse readers into being persuaded

WT p. 448 has a ch art that defines 13 common IFs anddefines them.

ILLOGICAL FALLACIES


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To further bolster your argument for your position, you should,

as mentioned before, keep the oppos ing view in mind. To

really drive your point home, you can even acknowledge and

rebut the opposing pointthat proves youve really done your

homework. Methods of counter-argument

Objective summary of your opponents position

Recognizing validity in the opposing position

Conceding some opposing points

Refuting or absorbing your opponents major points

QUALIFY YOUR CLAIMS!!

COUNTER-ARGUMENT


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This is an impor tant thing to do throughout your paper, not

just when countering potential opponents.

If you feel strongly about your position or want readers to

think you have strong conviction, you may be tempted to

overstate your claimsusing strong language that betrays bias

and immediately alerts the reader to your stance.

By qualifying your claims, you soften your position and th e

reader will feel that you are asking them to make up their own

mind.

It shows your reader that your position has some flexibility

It acknowledges (when relevant) the difficulties or limitations of yourposition

Your argument wi ll come across as reasonable if you present your

claims with a more balanced viewpoint

QUALIFYING YOUR CLAIMS

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Rhetorical Patterns & Argumentative Strategies (Project Two)