Introduction to Rhetoric and Argument, Exercises of Literature

Download Introduction to Rhetoric and Argument and more Exercises Literature in PDF only on Docsity! * These notes are intended to introduce key concepts we will work with, and are not intended as an alternative to doing the readings. You need to complete the readings as soon as possible. Introduction to Rhetoric and Argument What is argument?  Arguments are, fundamentally, opinions with support.  According to Mauk and Metz, “the vast majority of arguments are subtler: small exchanges of ideas with participants urging others to accept their positions. Most often, argument does not include beating an opponent, taking up arms, or preaching to an audience, but involves making a debatable position appear reasonable or acceptable” (4).  Every field of study includes arguments, sometimes with field-specific language (4), and every member of a field is an arguer. Rhetorical canons  Invention: the discovery and development of ideas  Arrangement: the organization of ideas in a coherent and engaging fashion  Style or voice: the personal or individualized use of language conventions, with attention to appropriateness, situation, and audience  Memory: the recollection of prepared points  Delivery: the presentation of ideas Ethos, pathos, and logos You have probably heard of ethos, pathos, and logos. These, like the canons, originate in Western thought from the Greeks. These are types of appeals used to support one’s ideas and/or claims.  Ethos: appeals to character and/or ethics  Pathos: appeals to feeling and emotion  Logos: appeals to reason and logic These are among the many types of support we will examine and practice this semester. Invention  “Invention is the discovery and development of ideas” (13).  As Mauk and Metz note in Chapter 1, the process of invention may include brainstorming, and just as often it “can be a deliberate process driven by probing questions and strategic intellectual moves” (13). They go on to observe that invention carries through the entire process of making an argument—the research, development, and response to others.  Invention requires asking questions and discovering what others have done and said. A person trying to “invent” a new drug, for instance, relies on the past work of others while attempting to create something new. Likewise, a good arguer relies on the ideas of others while trying to advance the conversation and invite their audiences to think in new or different ways. “Thesis” and “Claim”  In the context of this class, “thesis” will be referred to as a statement of purpose for an essay. “Claim” will be used as the main term for argumentative statements. According to the Owl at Purdue, “An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.” Types of Claims  “Claims of fact argue that a condition exists, has existed, or will exist . . . The Roman Empire influenced all of Europe” (Mauk and Metz 17).  “Claims of value argue that something possesses or reflects a particular quality . . . The governor’s strategies for getting reelected are underhanded” (18).  “Claims of policy argue that some action should be taken or that some change made . . . The local Humane Society branch should launch an educational campaign about rabies” (18).  “Revelatory claims reveal an unfamiliar topic or a new layer of a familiar one . . . Home schooling reestablishes a key concept that disappeared throughout the twentieth century” (23-24). Can it be argued, or is it worth arguing? Consider the following claim: It is only by understanding the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings of George Lucas’s entire ancestry that we can understand the true genius of Star Wars.  Can this really be argued?  Another claim: Cats are evil. Is this worth arguing?  Another example: Smoking is bad for your health.  And another: Marijuana should be legalized everywhere. The question at the top should be one of the first you ask as you consider topics for your essays in this class.