The Structure of Argument with 2021 MLA Update

An asterisk (*) indicates a new selection.

PART ONE Understanding Argument

*1.  What Is Argument?
Why Study Argument?
Argument in the Twenty-First Century 
             *MEL BONDAR, The Financial Case for Trade School over College
The Purposes of Argument
The Elements of Argument 
The Ethics of Argument 
So, Why Write Arguments? 
 
2.  Critical Reading of Written Arguments 
Prereading 
             Strategies for Prereading 
*GRETA THUNBERG, How Dare You?      
Reading with an Open Mind 
*MARK R. LEVIN, News, Propaganda, and Pseudo-Events
Reading for Content and Structure 
             Strategies for Annotating a Text 
CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT, A Tale of Two Airlines 
Summarizing 
             Research Skill: Using Summaries in Research 
*OCEAN VUONG, Reimagining Masculinity 
Evaluating 
             Strategies for Evaluating Arguments 
             BRUCE SCHNEIER, The Internet Is a Surveillance State 
             WHITNEY CRAMER, Giving Up Our Privacy: Is It Worth It? (student essay)           
             Argument Essentials: Examining Written Arguments 
Assignments for Critical Reading of Written Arguments 
 
3.  Critical Reading of Multimodal Arguments 
Visual Rhetoric 
             Photographs 
             *ERIK MCGREGOR, Candlelight Vigil for Mass Shooting Victims 
             *MICHAEL CAMPANELLA, Friday School Strikes, August 2018 
             *MARCO MERLINE, Fridays for the Future, Six Months Later  
             *NORMA JEAN GARGASZ, The View from the Other Side  
             *JOSEPH PREZIOSO, A Standoff over Immigration 
             *COURTENEY COKO MOORE, Little Boy Holds Hand of Crying Classmate
             Argument Essentials: Visual Rhetoric 
             Print Advertisements 
             WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, Stop Climate Change before It Changes You 
             AD COUNCIL, It Only Takes a Moment to Make a Moment  
             *L’OREAL, My Future Is What I Make It  
             Political Cartoons 
             *FRAN, Citizenship Test Forum  
             *PETER STEINER, Understand the Ten Commandments  
             *CHIP BOK, Sorry, Sir, You’ve Been Red-Flagged  
             Graphics 
             THEWORLD.ORG, Tobacco’s Shifting Burden    
             UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, Where Your Gas Money Goes  
Audio and Audiovisual Rhetoric 
             Television Commercials 
             TOYOTA, Let’s Go Places  
             Podcasts 
             *LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER, Recession Fears, Immigration Rules, and “Electability”  
             *TOM BALDWIN and NINA SCHICK, INTELLIGENCE SQUARED, How the Information Age              
             Crashed Our Democracy  
             Argument Essentials: Audiovisual Rhetoric 
             ELIZABETH WARREN, Remarks at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
             Strategies for Critical Listening 
Online Environments 
             Networking Sites 
             WILLIAM WHARTON, “Peaceful” Act of Compassion 
             Argument Essentials: Online Environments 
             Research Skill: Evaluating Online Sources 
             Interactive Websites 
             AD COUNCIL, embracerefugees.org  
Assignments for Critical Reading of Multimodal Arguments 
 
4.  Writing Argument Analysis 
             Argument Essentials: Argument Analysis 
Writing the Thesis (Main Claim) 
             Argument Essentials: Writing the Claim 
Planning the Structure 
             Argument Essentials: Planning the Structure 
Providing Support 
             Summarizing 
             Paraphrasing 
             Argument Essentials: Providing Support 
             Quoting 
             Research Skill: Incorporating Quotations into Your Text 
Documenting Your Sources 
             Strategies for Documenting Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation 
             JAMES W. INGRAM III, Electoral College Is Best Way to Choose U.S. President 
             HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, The Science Facts about Autism and Vaccines (infographic) 
             *STEFAN ANDREASSON, Fossil Fuel Divestment Will Increase Carbon Emissions, Not Lower Them 
             *BEN ADLER, Are Plastic-Bag Bans Good for the Climate?  
             *LESLEY WEXLER AND JENNIFER K. ROBBENNOLT, #MeToo and Restorative Justice: Realizing              
Restoration for Victims and Offenders 
             *DESTINÉE MILLER, Restorative Justice and the #MeToo Movement (student essay) 
             *SABRA STAPLETON, How to Pick a President: Electoral College vs. National Popular Vote (student essay) 
Assignments for Writing Argument Analysis 
 
PART TWO Writing Argument 
 
*5.  Approaches to Argument 
Aristotelian Rhetoric 
             Ethos 
             Logos 
             Pathos 
             Ancient Rhetoric Today 
             Argument Essentials: Aristotelian Rhetoric 
             *CHESLEY B. “SULLY” SULLENBERGER III, We Saved 155 Lives on the Hudson. Now Let’s Vote for Leaders Who’ll Protect Us All. 
             LIZA LONG, I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother 
             Rogerian Argument 
             Argument Essentials: Rogerian Argument 
             MALLORY SIMON, Gun Debate: Where Is the Middle Ground? 
             SARAH SELTZER, Teaching Trigger Warnings: What Pundits Don’t Understand about the Year’s Most Controversial Higher-Ed Debate 
Stasis Theory 
             The Stasis Questions 
             Stasis Theory Claims 
             Research Skill: Narrowing Your Research 
The Toulmin Model 
             The Claim 
             The Support 
             The Assumption 
             Toulmin and the Syllogism 
             Argument Essentials: The Toulmin Model 
             *ANGIRA PATEL, To Be a Good Doctor, Study the Humanities 
             STEVEN REINBERG, Embryo Selection May Help Prevent Some Inherited Disorders 
Assignments for Approaches to Argument 
 
6.  Claims 
Claims of Fact 
             Argument Essentials: Claims of Fact 
             Research Skill: Using Databases 
             *AMY FROIDE, Spinster, Old Maid, or Self-Partnered: Why Words for Single Women Have Changed through Time 
             DOMTAR PAPER, Paper Because (advertisement) 
Claims of Value 
             Aesthetics 
             Morality 
             Argument Essentials: Claims of Value 
             SAMUEL CHI, The NFL’s Protest Crisis 
             *ODIE HENDERSON, Black Panther 
Claims of Policy 
             Argument Essentials: Claims of Policy 
             ELISHA DOV HACK, College Life versus My Moral Code 
             *JESSICA ANDREWS, How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation at Coachella 
             Strategies for Reading and Writing Claims 
Assignments for Claims 
 
7.  Support 
             Strategies for Reading and Writing Support 
Evidence 
             Factual Evidence  
             Images 
             Research Skill: Evaluating Factual Evidence 
             Expert Opinion 
             Research Skill: Evaluating Expert Opinion 
             Argument Essentials: Evidence 
             KRISTEN WEINACKER, Safer? Tastier? More Nutritious? The Dubious Merits of Organic Foods (student essay) 
             SID KIRCHHEIMER, Are Sports Fans Happier?  
Appeals to Needs and Values 
             Appeals to Needs 
             Argument Essentials: Appeals to Needs and Values 
             Appeals to Values 
             Strategies for Evaluating Appeals to Needs and Values 
             RONALD M. GREEN, Building Baby from the Genes Up 
             *SARAH GRIFFITHS, Why Having a Crush Is Good for You 
Assignments for Support 
 
8.   Assumptions 
General Principles 
Widely Held Assumptions 
             Argument Essentials: Assumptions 
Recognizing and Analyzing Unstated Assumptions 
             “Obvious” Assumptions 
             Intention to Deceive 
             Strategies for Recognizing Assumptions 
             *THOMAS R. WELLS, Let the Anti-Vaxxers Have Their Way 
             Research Skill: Focusing a Research Topic 
             MICHAEL LEVIN, The Case for Torture 
             ROBERT A. SIRICO, An Unjust Sacrifice 
Assignments for Assumptions 
 
9.   Structuring the Argument 
Organizing the Argument 
             Defending the Thesis 
             Refuting an Opposing View 
             Strategies for Refuting an Opposing View 
             SHARON ASTYK AND AARON NEWTON, The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Go Hungry 
             Finding the Middle Ground      
             Strategies for Finding the Middle Ground 
             *JACK BEYRER, Innovative Gun Control Idea Gains Support 
             Presenting the Stock Issues
             JOHN R. KOZA, States Can Reform Electoral College — Here’s How to Empower Popular Vote 
             Argument Essentials: Organizing the Argument 
Writing 
             Writing the Introduction 
             Writing the Conclusion 
Assignments for Structuring Arguments 
 
PART THREE  Strengthening Argument
 
10.  Language 
The Power of Words 
             Emotive Language 
             STIHL, Consumer Confidence (advertisement) 
             *DONALD J. TRUMP, Remarks on the Shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio
             PAMELA POWERS HANNLEY, Bathroom Politics: Preserving the Sanctity of the “Ladies’ Room” 
Slanting 
             Research Skill: Evaluating Language in Sources 
Figurative Language 
             W. E. B. DU BOIS, Of Our Spiritual Strivings 
Concrete and Abstract Language 
Shortcuts 
             Clichés 
             Slogans 
             Strategies for Evaluating Word Choice and Choosing Your Words Carefully 
             *RACHEL SYME, Selfie: The Revolutionary Potential of Your Own Face 
             BARACK OBAMA, Remarks at Memorial Service for Fallen Dallas Police Officers 
Assignments for Language 
 
11.  Definition  
The Purposes of Definition 
             Argument Essentials: Purposes of Definition 
             SUNNIVIE BRYDUM, The True Meaning of the Word “Cisgender” 
             *LUCAS WRIGHT, Twitter Bans Dehumanization 
Defining the Terms in Your Argument 
             The Limitations of Dictionary Definitions 
             Stipulation and Negation: Stating What a Term Is and Is Not 
             Defining Vague and Ambiguous Terms 
             Research Skill: Using Encyclopedias to Find Definitions 
             Definition by Example 
             Argument Essentials: Defining the Terms in Your Argument 
             Extended Definitions 
             Strategies for Writing a Definition Essay 
             ISHMEAL BRADLEY, Conscientious Objection in Medicine: A Moral Dilemma 
             BRIAN WHITAKER, The Definition of Terrorism 
Assignments for Definition 
 
12.  Logic  
             Induction 
             Argument Essentials: Induction 
             *STEVEN DOLOFF, Greta Garbo, Meet Joan Rivers . . . (Talk Amongst Yourselves)” 
Deduction 
             Argument Essentials: Deduction 
             *SEAMUS O’MAHONY, Are We Living Too Long?  
             HILLARY CLINTON, Remarks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Women and the Economy Summit
Common Fallacies 
             Research Skill: Structuring Your Research with Generalizations and Specifics 
             Hasty Generalization 
             Faulty Use of Authority 
             Post Hoc or Doubtful Cause 
             False Analogy 
             Ad Hominem 
             False Dilemma 
             Slippery Slope 
             Begging the Question 
             Straw Man 
             Red Herring 
             Two Wrongs Make a Right 
             Non Sequitur 
             Ad Populum 
             Strategies for Uncovering Logical Fallacies 
             Appeal to Tradition 
             CHRISTOPHER CALDWELL, Drivers Get Rolled 
             *JUSTICE HENRY BILLINGS BROWN, Plessy v. Ferguson: The Opinion of the Court
Assignments for Logic 
 
PART FOUR Incorporating Research
             
13.  Planning and Research 
Finding an Appropriate Topic 
             Invention Strategies 
             Evaluating Possible Topics 
             Strategies for Identifying Effective Research Paper Topics 
Initiating Research 
             Keeping Research on Track 
             Strategies for Keeping Your Research on Track 
             Research Skill: What Is Common Knowledge?  
             Sketching a Preliminary Outline 
             Types of Sources 
             Research Skill: Popular vs. Scholarly Articles 
Finding Sources 
             Databases 
             Encyclopedias 
             Statistical Resources 
             Government Resources 
             Online Sources 
             Multimodal Sources 
Evaluating Sources 
             Evaluating Sources for Relevance 
             Evaluating Sources for Reliability 
             Research Skill: Evaluating Multimodal Sources 
             Argument Essentials: Evaluating Sources 
Taking Notes 
             Note Taking and Prewriting 
             Working with Your Outline 
             Managing and Documenting Sources 
             Argument Essentials: Taking Notes 
             *ALICIA OGLESBY, Safe Spaces 
             *MEGAN YEE, Why “Safe Spaces” Are Important for Mental Health — Especially on College Campuses 
 
14.  Drafting, Revising, and Presenting Arguments 
Reviewing Your Research 
             Research Skill: Reviewing Your Research 
Avoiding Plagiarism 
             Argument Essentials: Avoiding Plagiarism 
Building an Effective Argument 
             Argument Essentials: Checklist for Effective Arguments 
Using Sentence Forms to Write Arguments 
             Argument Essentials: Addressing Opposing Arguments Using Sentence Forms 
Revising 
Oral Arguments and Presentations 
             The Audience 
             Credibility 
             Organization 
             Language 
             Support 
             Presentation Aids 
             *JIMMY CARTER, Why I Believe the Mistreatment of Women Is the Number One Human Rights Abuse 
             KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, Remarks to Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute     
 
15.  Documenting Sources 
MLA In-Text Citations 
MLA Works Cited Entries 
             Directory of MLA Works Cited Entries 
             Print Sources 
             The Elements of Citation: Book (MLA) 
             Online Sources 
             The Elements of Citation: Article from a Website (MLA) 
             The Elements of Citation: Article from a Database (MLA) 
             Other Sources 
MLA-Style Annotated Bibliography 
MLA-Style Paper Format 
MLA-Style Sample Research Paper 
             *ANNA HARVIN, The Place for Safe Space: Mental Health and the College Student Experience (student essay in MLA style) 
APA In-Text Citations 
APA List of References 
             Directory of APA Reference Entries 
             Print Sources 
             The Elements of Citation: Book (APA) 
             Online Sources 
             The Elements of Citation: Article from a Website (APA) 
             The Elements of Citation: Article from a Database (APA) 
             Other Sources 
APA-Style Paper Format 
APA-Style Sample Research Paper 
             *DANIEL M. WEINZAPFEL, The Economic Argument for Expanding GMO Regulation in America (student essay in APA style) 
 
Glossary 
Index