Chapter 2 Berkelman
- arguments explain what we think and why we think so
- arguments are defined by their function or their form or structure
- arguments originate from unknown answers or problems that people want an answer to
- where do we find arguments?
- scholars
- government and military intelligent experts
- lawyers
- scientists
- begin with a question or uncertainty and use some method of investigation and case building to arrive at a conclusion
- scholars might:
- discover a question that puzzles them
- feel aggravated by a problem
- disagree with findings
- find something that contradicts previous experiences
- finding a reason in writing will help develop your scholarly skills
- scholars often discover their hypothesis throughout their research
- scholars are guided by inquiry-an attempt to gather understanding and gather knowledge
- what we know, think, and believe evolves through investigations, new experiences, and persuasive arguments
- the best arguments are the ones that have important implications-consequences or effects that answer the so what question
- catalyst-inquiry-argument- implications
- you need claims and supports to back up your thesis
- evidence-anything we can observe
- verification-things we can look up
- illustrations-things we imagine
- evidence is a primary source-something you can collect and analyze yourself
- verification is a secondary source-someone else has already analyzed or interpreted the evidence
- illustration is an original sourcce-one you create or borrow for a particular argument
- what should the support accomplish?
- do we want it to build credibility, active reasoning, or evoke emotion?
- a linkage explains the "because" part of an argument
- effective arguments always build on some basis of acceptance or agreement
- assumptions are any elements of the argument that either the writer or the audience are thinking but not saying
- assumptions make up the bulk of the total argument
- arguments that anticipate disconnects-that is , objections and unshared assumptions-have the best chance for changing our audience's mind
- increased controversy requires increased explanation
- common rookie mistakes:
- arguing the obvious
- arguing without support
- supporting without arguing
- to avoid arguing the obvious:
- read more
- ask an expert
- to avoid arguing without support
- highlight your argument
- consult a reader
- to avoid supporting without arguing
- use topic sentences
- search for stranded support
- in effective arguments, the writer's catalyst and the implications for the audience converge to answer the question so what?