Lesson OneWhy We Argue

Neijiang Normal University - Instructor: Brent A. Simoneaux

Our main focus for this semester will be on writing essays. Particularly, we will focus on

argumentative essays.

We will cover chapters 5, 6, and 8 in our text.

Semester Objective

By the end of this lesson, you should know:

• What argument is

• Why we argue

• How culture might create obstacles when writing argument

Today’s Objectives

Take 5 minutes to write a definition and an example to

illustrate.

Do not use your dictionary.

argument

“The aim or purpose of argument is to use logic (both inductive and deductive) to

create reasoned communication of ideas, insights, and experiences to some audience

so as to produce a new understanding of some issue for that audience.”

So, what is argument?{argument}

{argument}What argument is not:

1. Argument is not confrontation.

{argument}What argument is not:

2. Argument is not opinion.

{argument}What argument is not:

3. Argument is not disagreement about fact.

{argument}What argument is not:

4. Argument is not synonymous with formal or classic logic.

A question of degree

{argument}

exposition argumentation persuasion

Purpose: informative

Purpose: interpretive

and informative

Purpose: less informative more persuasive

Spectrum of Writing Purposes

A question of degree{argument}

Spectrum of Content

exposition argumentation persuasion

facts facts + analysis emotional / irrational

grocery lists

manuals

business letters

academic essays

political writing

advertising

A question of degree{argument}

The spectrum of writing illustrates two useful concepts:

1. As the writer’s purpose moves from pure exposition toward persuasion, it incorporates many of the elements of the types of writing that precedes it.

A question of degree{argument}

The spectrum of writing illustrates two useful concepts:

2. One type of writing may fall in different classifications along the spectrum because classification is determined by the purpose of the writer and the needs of the audience. (ie: scientific paper)

{argument}

It is important to remember that argumentative essays involve the use of logic and teach much more than research

of a subject.

{argument}This is where it becomes difficult for students, especially Eastern students.

Given what you now know about argument, what do you think are some

cultural obstacles that you might encounter when writing argumentative

essays?

{argument}

The Biggest Cultural Obstacle

Logic is essentially a western construct.

“…The most striking difference between the traditions at the two ends of the civilized world is

in the destiny of logic. For the West, logic has been central and the thread of transmission has

never snapped…”

-Philosopher Angus Graham

{argument}

1. Independent

{argument}Logic

Aristotle

The Greeks thought of themselves as:

2. Individuals with distinctive properties

{argument}Logic

Aristotle

The Greeks thought of themselves as:

3. Units separate from others in society

{argument}Logic

Aristotle

The Greeks thought of themselves as:

4. In control of their own destinies

{argument}Logic

Aristotle

The Greeks thought of themselves as:

Similarly, Greek philosophy regarded the object in isolation as the proper focus of

attention and analysis.

{argument}Logic

This led to a move toward abstraction and distrust of the senses.

{argument}Logic

For example, Aristotle thought of attributes as having a reality distinct from their

concrete embodiments.

{argument}Logic

In other words, it was meaningful for Aristotle to speak not just of a solid object, but of attributes in the abstract and to have

theories about these abstractions.

{argument}Logic

• Woodenness

• Brownness

• Sturdiness

• Solidness

{argument}Logic

Aristotle would then analyze

these attributes and create

theories about them.

{argument}

The world, then, is in principle

simple and knowable.

{argument}Logic

All one has to do is understand an

object’s distinctive attributes so as to

identify its relevant categories and then

apply a certain theory to the category.

{argument}Logic

{argument}Logic

Think about the implications of all of this:

We have this entire culture of people who (1) believe that the world is in principle simple and knowable; (2) love abstract ideas and theories; and

(3) think of themselves as individual and separate.

{argument}Logic

debate

{argument}Logic

Argument was used in debate to communicate ideas, insights, and experiences to the audience

so as to produce new understanding.

Logic was developed as one of the main tools of debate.

{argument}Logic

Debate is still a very important element of Western culture.

• Politics

{argument}Logic

{argument}Logic

Debate is still a very important element of Western culture.

• Politics

• Academia

• Daily life

{argument}Logic

What about Chinese philosophy and culture?

{argument}Logic

There were two short-lived movements of little influence in the East that had a similar spirit of logical inquiry as the

West:

• Ming jia

• Mohists

{argument}Logic

Chinese social life was interdependent and

characterized by harmony.

(Taoists: Man & nature)

(Confucians: Man & Man)

{argument}Logic

Similarly, the Way, and not the discovery of truth, was

the goal of philosophy. Thought that gave no

guidance to action was considered fruitless.

{argument}Logic

The world was complicated, events were interrelated, and objects

(and people) were connected not as pieces of a pie, but as ropes in a net.

{argument}Logic

Complexity and interrelation meant for the Chinese that any attempt to understand something

without appreciation of its context was doomed.

{argument}Logic

{argument}Logic

“The aim of the Chinese classical education has always been the

cultivation of the reasonable man as the model of education. An

educated man should, above all, be a reasonable being, who is always

characterized by his common sense, his love of moderation and

restraint, and his hatred of abstract theories and logical extremes.”

-Literary critic Lin Yutang

{argument}Logic

This semester, we are going to be learning how to think as well as write.

{argument}Logic

Why do we argue?

To create a dialogue in an effort to discover truth.

HomeworkThink about an argumentative essay topic that you are interested in and curious about. Write down your general topic and bring it to class next week. We’ll work on making it more

specific later.

HomeworkChoose any object that you use in your daily life (look in your pockets, dorm room, purse, wallet, etc.) Study this object; look at it very

closely. Now, write one paragraph to describe it in detail. Use your imagination.

Use your Writing Notebook. Due: next week.

Next Week:

Invention