Inventing Argument

Chapter 9

College Comp II

Arguing Crisis

• Arguing crisis means that we are arguing “What are we going to do?”

• A crisis is a crucial or decisive situation in which things are about to change with potentially severe or intense consequences.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Argument in a real world play a vital role.

• Publics crises almost always lead to a persuasive argument.

• They loom in nearly every situation, including social, intuitional, professional, or political.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• One of the main issues is that any one crisis can prompt any number of possible responses.

• However, most arguments about a crisis can be dwindled down to two possible solutions, and then the arguing of A or B. The problem is that this will blur other possibilities.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Those individuals who are apt at argument and insightful will see beyond the most common possibilities to other options.

• The writer must look beyond the common possibilities to see the hidden ones that lie behind a wall of common practices, traditional perspectives, or a perceived either/or choice.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• The best and often most valuable solution is the one that is most manageable, ethical, practical, economical, and far-reaching.

• One must also take into account the hidden implications, blurred boundaries, and potential consequences.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Two layers of a crisis:– The actual crisis– The solution to the crisis

• Writers must first convenience the readers that a crisis/problem exist.

• Writers must also find issues that affect more than one person and an audience would be interested in learning about.

Arguing Crisis Cont. • Starting Places:

– Local college or national newspaper; school budgets, city government, labor, transportation, etc.

– Town or neighborhood– College campus– School-sponsored documents– Political talk show– Prompts – Academic major– Bouncing ideas off a group of peers– Reading from the chapter

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Analyzing the Situation– Use questions to probe

• What makes the situation a crisis?• What are the possible outcomes?• Who or what caused the crisis?• When might it climax?• What can be done to resolve the crisis?• How did the situation evolve into a crisis?• What can be done to resolve the crisis?

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Entering Argument– Find out what the circulating opinions are about the crisis.– Build a bridge so that doubtful or even hostile readers will

consider a claim.– Using the library, find periodicals or Internet sources that

discussion the crisis.– Do research at the local paper if it is a local issue.– Use arguments that are related to yours to understand the

values and claims being made.– Make sure not to stop exploring ideas and thinking when you

feel you have a solution or possibility—keep digging deeper.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Inventing a Thesis– Go through the Hegelian process to find your

thesis• Thesis• Antithesis• synthesis

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Inventing Support:– Authorities– Testimony– Appeals to logic– Appeals to value

• What analogies can I make?• What personal situations can I use?• What logical appeals are necessary for my

argument?• What appeals to value can I make?

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Arrangement– Description of the crisis– Description of life without the crisis– Evidence or appeals about the crisis– Counterarguments– Description of the solution– Support for the solution– Counterarguments of other solutions– Concession about other solutions

Arguing Crisis Cont.

– Begin with an introduction that introduces the crisis

– End with either rephrasing the main points or giving a final solution.

– Give counterarguments, concessions, and/or qualifiers within the body of the paper.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMETHING IS YOUR OPINION DOES NOT MAKE IT A GOOD ARGUMENT.

• Do not be narrow minded that your opinion is the only one or always the best one.

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Audience and Voice– Informality– Formality– Accusation

Arguing Crisis Cont.

• Revision– Personal review– Peer review– Instructor review