Practical Argument: Short Edition

CONTENTS

*New to this edition

Preface

Disciplinary Contents

PART
 1 Understanding Argument
An Introduction to Argument
Why Instructors Assign Argument [box]
Defining Argument
What Kinds of Statements Are Not Debatable? [box]
Arguments in Real Life
Winning and Losing Arguments
The Rhetorical Situation
Considering the Writer
Considering the Purpose
Considering the Audience
Considering the Question
Considering the Context
Logos, Pathos, and Ethos
The Appeal to Reason (Logos)
Logos in Action
The Appeal to the Emotions (Pathos)
Pathos in Action
The Appeal to Authority (Ethos)
Ethos in Action
The Rhetorical Triangle

 CHAPTER 1  The Four Pillars of Argument
AT ISSUE Is a College Education Worth the Money?
The Elements of Argument
Thesis Statement
Evidence
Refutation
Concluding Statement
→ CHECKLIST: DOES YOUR ARGUMENT STAND UP?
NIA TUCKSON, Why Foreign-Language Study Should Be Required [student essay]
ANDY KESSLER, Learn a Language, But Not a Human One
READING AND WRITING ABOUT THE ISSUE  Is a College Education Worth the Money?
ELLEN RUPPEL SHELL, College May Not Be Worth It Anymore
MARTY NEMKO, We Send Too Many Students to College
*DANIEL RIVERA-IBARRA, Paying It Forward Makes Higher Ed Worth the Price 
JENNIE LE, What Does It Mean to Be a College Grad?
*EMMA WHITFORD, Not All Americans Think College Is Worth It  
BRYAN CAPLAN, The World Might Be Better Off without College for Everyone
*HUNTER RAWLINGS, College Is Not a Commodity: Stop Treating It Like One  
→ TEMPLATE FOR STRUCTURING AN ARGUMENT

PART
 2 Reading and Responding to Arguments

 CHAPTER 2 Thinking and Reading Critically
AT ISSUE Does Recycling Really Accomplish Anything?
Thinking Critically
Using Critical-Thinking Skills [box]
Reading Critically and Actively
Guidelines for Reading Critically [box]
Previewing
Close Reading
Comprehension Clues [box]
JOHN TIERNEY, The Reign of Recycling
Highlighting
Suggestions for Highlighting [box]
LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD, It’s Time to Phase Out Single-Use Plastic
Annotating
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS FOR ANNOTATING
*JOHN VIDAL, The Solution to the Plastic Waste Crisis? It’s Not Recycling  
JENNY LUNA, We Are So Forked
Writing a Critical Response
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL READING
NEENA THOMASON, Response to “It’s Time to Phase Out All Single-Use Plastic” [student response]
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A CRITICAL RESPONSE

 CHAPTER 3 Reading and Responding to Visual Arguments
AT ISSUE Does Recycling Really Accomplish Anything? (continued)
Visuals versus Visual Arguments [box]
Reading Visual Arguments
Comprehension Clues [box]
National Geographic Cover [visual]
Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos [box]
Recycling Bar Graph [graph]
*Keep Disposable Face Masks and Gloves Out of Our Waterways! [advertisement]
Recycling Cartoon [cartoon]
Waste Pie Chart [chart]
*Recycle Right! [infographic]
*One-Third of Plastic Packaging Escapes Recycling Systems [advertisement]
Highlighting and Annotating Visual Arguments
What Goes in the Ocean Goes in You [advertisement]
Responding Critically to Visual Arguments
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO VISUAL ARGUMENTS
GABRIEL DUNN, Response to “What Goes in the Ocean Goes in You” [student response]
→ TEMPLATE FOR RESPONDING TO VISUAL ARGUMENTS

 CHAPTER 4  Writing a Rhetorical Analysis
AT ISSUE Does It Make Sense to Shop Ethically?
What Is a Rhetorical Analysis?
Overview: “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. [box]
Considering the Rhetorical Situation
Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation [box]
The Writer
Analyzing the Writer [box]
The Writer’s Purpose
Analyzing the Writer’s Purpose [box]
The Writer’s Audience
Analyzing the Writer’s Audience [box]
The Question
Analyzing the Question [box]
The Context
Analyzing the Context [box]
Considering the Means of Persuasion: Logos, Pathos, Ethos
The Appeal to Reason (Logos)
The Appeal to the Emotions (Pathos)
The Appeal to Authority (Ethos)
Considering the Writer’s Rhetorical Strategies
Thesis
Organization
Evidence
Stylistic Techniques
Assessing the Argument
→ CHECKLIST: PREPARING TO WRITE A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
Sample Rhetorical Analysis
DANA THOMAS, Terror’s Purse Strings
DENIZ BILGUTAY, A Powerful Call to Action [student essay]
RAJEEV RAVISANKAR, Sweatshop Oppression
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
JEROME SIEGER, Sweatshops Are Good

 CHAPTER 5  Understanding Logic and Recognizing Logical Fallacies
AT ISSUE How Free Should Free Speech Be?
What Is Deductive Reasoning?
Constructing Sound Syllogisms
Syllogism with an Illogical Middle Term
Syllogism with a Key Term Whose Meaning Shifts
Syllogism with Negative Premise
Recognizing Enthymemes
Bumper-Sticker Thinking [box]
Writing Deductive Arguments
CRYSTAL SANCHEZ, College Should Be for Everyone [student essay]
What Is Inductive Reasoning?
Reaching Inductive Conclusions [box]
Making Inferences
Constructing Strong Inductive Arguments
Generalization Too Broad
Atypical Evidence
Irrelevant Evidence
Exceptions to the Rule
Writing Inductive Arguments
*IAN AYRES, Until I’m Told Otherwise, I Prefer to Call You “They” 
Recognizing Logical Fallacies
Begging the Question
Circular Reasoning
Weak Analogy
Ad Hominem Fallacy (Personal Attack)
Creating a Straw Man
Hasty or Sweeping Generalization (Jumping to a Conclusion)
Either/Or Fallacy (False Dilemma)
Equivocation
Red Herring
Slippery Slope
You Also (Tu Quoque)
Appeal to Doubtful Authority
Misuse of Statistics
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (After This, Therefore Because of This)
Non Sequitur (It Does Not Follow)
Bandwagon Fallacy
PATRICK J. BUCHANAN, Immigration Time-Out
READING AND WRITING ABOUT THE ISSUE  How Free Should Free Speech Be?  
*ARIZONA BAR FOUNDATION, Freedom of Speech: What It Is and What It Isn’t 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes
*SARA LAVENDUSKI, “Free Speech” Comes with a Price  
*PRAVEEN NAIR, Social Media Bans Are about More Than Just Free Speech 
*TYLER WATKINS, How Free Should Free Speech Be?
Visual Argument: Football Players Kneeling [photograph]
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING AN INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT

 CHAPTER 6  Rogerian Argument, Toulmin Logic, and Oral Arguments
*AT ISSUE Why Aren’t STEM Fields More Diverse?
Understanding Rogerian Argument
Structuring Rogerian Arguments
Writing Rogerian Arguments
ZOYA KAHN, Why Cell Phones Do Not Belong in the Classroom [student essay]
Understanding Toulmin Logic
Constructing Toulmin Arguments
Writing Toulmin Arguments
JEN DAVIS, Competitive Cheerleaders Are Athletes [student essay]
Understanding Oral Arguments
Planning an Oral Argument
→ CHECKLIST: DESIGNING AND DISPLAYING VISUALS
Delivering Oral Arguments
Dealing with Nervousness [box]
Composing an Oral Argument
*Choosing Presentation Tools [box]
CHANTEE STEELE, An Argument in Support of the “Gap Year” [student speech]
*READING AND WRITING ABOUT THE ISSUE  Why Aren’t STEM Fields More Diverse?
STUART REGES, Why Women Don’t Code
BARBARA OAKLEY, Why Do Women Shun STEM? It’s Complicated
*MEREDITH REICHES AND SARAH S. RICHARDSON, We Dug into Data to Disprove a Myth about Women in STEM 
*MARIA TEMMING, STEM’s Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Gaps Are Still Strikingly Large 
*BARBARA MORAN, Is Science Too Straight? 
*Visual Argument: Diversity in STEM [poster] 
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A ROGERIAN ARGUMENT
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A TOULMIN ARGUMENT

PART
 3 Writing an Argumentative Essay

 CHAPTER 7  Planning, Drafting, and Revising an Argumentative Essay
AT ISSUE Should All College Campuses Go Green?
Choosing a Topic
Topics to Avoid
Thinking about Your Topic
Freewriting
Brainstorming
Clustering
Informal Outline
Drafting a Thesis Statement
*Types of Claims [box]
Understanding Your Purpose and Audience
Gathering Evidence
Evaluating the Evidence in Your Sources
Detecting Bias in Your Sources
Using Visuals as Evidence [box]
Refuting Opposing Arguments
Strategies for Refuting Opposing Arguments
Revising Your Thesis Statement
Structuring Your Essay
Supplying Background Information [box]
Using Induction and Deduction
*Identifying a Strategy for Your Argument: Applying Stasis Theory
Constructing a Formal Outline
Establishing Credibility
Being Well Informed
Being Reasonable
Being Fair
Maintaining Your Credibility [box]
Drafting Your Essay
Suggested Transitions for Argument [box]
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT: USING PARALLELISM
Revising Your Essay
Asking Questions
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ESSAY’S PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ESSAY’S STRUCTURE AND STYLE
→ CHECKLIST: QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ESSAY’S SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Using Outlines and Templates
Getting Feedback
Guidelines for Peer Review [box]
Polishing Your Essay
Editing and Proofreading
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT: CONTRACTIONS VERSUS POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Choosing a Title
Checking Format
SHAWN HOLTON, Going Green [student essay]

PART
 4 Using Sources to Support Your Argument

 CHAPTER 8  Finding and Evaluating Sources
*AT ISSUE How Concerned Should We Be about Our Privacy in the Digital Age?
Finding Sources
Finding Information in the Library
Finding Information on the Internet
Using Google Scholar [box]
Evaluating Sources
*TATUM HUNTER, QR Codes Are a Privacy Problem—But Not for the Reasons You’ve Heard 
*EDWARD J. MARKEY AND ORRIN HATCH, Protecting Student Privacy in the Digital Age 
Evaluating Websites
Reliable versus Unreliable Websites [box]
Using a Site’s URL to Assess Its Objectivity [box]
Avoiding Confirmation Bias [box]
*THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, Home Page [website]
*INSTYLE MAGAZINE, Home Page [website]
*DAVID HUDSON, Student-Athletes Have a Right to Peaceful Protest 

 CHAPTER 9  Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Synthesizing Sources
AT ISSUE How Concerned Should We Be about Our Privacy in the Digital Age? (continued)
Summarizing Sources
When to Summarize [box]
Summarizing Sources [box]
Paraphrasing Sources
When to Paraphrase [box]
Paraphrasing Sources [box]
Quoting Sources
When to Quote [box]
Quoting Sources [box]
SHELLEY FRALIC, Don’t Fall for the Myths about Online Privacy
Working Source Material into Your Argument
Using Identifying Tags
Templates for Using Identifying Tags [box]
Working Quotations into Your Sentences
Distorting Quotations [box]
Synthesizing Sources
Synthesizing Sources [box]

 CHAPTER 10 Documenting Sources: MLA
Why Document Sources? [box]
Using In-Text Citations
Preparing the Works-Cited List
What to Include in a Works-Cited Entry [box]  
Periodicals
Books
Visual, Audio, and Multimedia Sources
Internet Sources
Other Sources 
MLA Paper Guidelines [box]
ERIN BLAINE, Should Data Posted on Social-Networking Sites Be “Fair Game” for Employers? [model MLA paper]

 CHAPTER 11  Using Sources Responsibly
*AT ISSUE What Should Be Done about Plagiarism?
Understanding Plagiarism
Two Definitions of Plagiarism [box]
Intentional Plagiarism [box]
Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism
Internet Sources and Plagiarism [box]
Knowing What to Document
ERIKA RAMIREZ, When Beyoncé’s Inspiration Turns into Imitation
Revising to Eliminate Plagiarism
*READING AND WRITING ABOUT THE ISSUE   What Should Be Done about Plagiarism?
TRIP GABRIEL, Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in Digital Age
JENNIFER MOTT-SMITH, Bad Idea about Writing: Plagiarism Deserves to Be Punished
*SUSAN H. GREENBERG, Why Colleges Should Ditch Honor Codes 
RICHARD A. POSNER, The Truth about Plagiarism
*ELIZABETH REDDEN, Cheating across Cultures  
*Visual Argument: Website Advertising Term Papers for Sale 
→ TEMPLATE FOR WRITING AN ARGUMENT ABOUT PLAGIARISM
→ WRITING ARGUMENTS: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT PLAGIARISM?

*APPENDIX A Combining Argumentative Strategies
ROBERT M. FRANKLIN, RFK’s Still a Leadership Role Model for Youth
APPENDIX B Writing Literary Arguments
What Is a Literary Argument?
Stating an Argumentative Thesis
Choosing Evidence
Writing a Literary Argument
MEGAN McGOVERN, Confessions of a Misunderstood Poem: An Analysis of “The Road Not Taken” [student essay]
LOREN MARTINEZ, Not Just a “Girl” [student essay]
APPENDIX C Documenting Sources: APA
Using In-Text Citations
Preparing a Reference List
Examples of APA References
Periodicals
Books
Internet Sources
Student Essay
APA Paper Guidelines [box]
DENIZ BILGUTAY, The High Cost of Cheap Counterfeit Goods [model APA paper]

Glossary

Acknowledgments

Subject Index

Index of Titles and Authors