Argument
One rhetorical style of writing is called argument. This is writing that tries to persuade the reader to agree with the writer about something. The writer makes a statement–a debatable statement, that is, a statement that some people might disagree with. The writer then supports the statement with evidence–facts, examples, and expert opinions. A good written argument presents the opposing view or views and then uses evidence to show why those views are not the right ones. When you write an argument you state your position in the topic sentence. It’s a good idea not to put this at the very beginning of the argument. You want to get people reading what you’ve written before you come out with a controversial statement. Start out with what the opposition thinks, then show why that opinion is faulty (using evidence), and then come out with your position. (More on argument.)
(The following explanation and student writing are from Writing in Context by Kirszner and Mandell, Boston: Bedford/St.Martins, 2003,p. 105.)
A fact is information that can be verified. For example, it is a fact that A comes before G in the alphabet and that the Canadian ice hockey team won a gold medal in the 2002 Olympics. If you make the point that students are less prepared for college today than they were twenty years ago, you should support it with facts–for example, by citing SAT scores and college dropout rates. Avoid sweeping statements that are not supported by facts from … reliable sources.
An example is a specific illustration of a general statement. To be convincing, an example should relate clearly to the point you are making. For example, to support a point that the quality of life in your neighborhood has improved recently, you could discuss a number of new businesses that have opened and several neighbors who have spent time and money improving their properties. Make sure, however, that your examples are typical, not exceptional. For instance, the fact that one new business has opened is not enough to establish that your neighborhood is improving.
An expert is someone who is generally recognized as knowledgeable about a particular subject. The opinion of an expert who supports your view on a subject can be very persuasive. For example, if you wanted to argue that censoring the Internet would undercut people’s freedom of speech, you could quote an expert on constitutional law such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a justice of the United States Supreme Court. Because Ginsburg is a recognized authority on constitutional issues, her opinion carries a great deal of weight. Remember, though, that an expert in one field is not necessarily an expert in another field. For instance, Ginsburg’s personal opinion about stem-cell research would have less value than the opinion of someone who has spent most of his or her life studying this subject.
The following paragraph argues against the use of Astroturf in sports stadiums.
Sports stadiums built during the 1960s and 1970s use Astroturf because it requires little maintenance and creates a uniform playing surface. But recently it has become clear that Astroturf has caused so many injuries that it should be eliminated from all pro sports stadiums. Anyone who follows baseball or football knows that Astroturf causes many knee and ankle injuries. The main reason for this situation is that it does not absorb impact the way a natural grass surface does. Astroturf consists of a layer of rough artificial grass on top of a layer of padding. Beneath these layers is a cement pad. Players who fall on Astroturf or, in the case of football, are thrown down onto it, risk serious injury. The New York Giants, for example, lost tight end Mark Bavaro to knee injuries caused by his falling on the artificial surface of the Meadowlands Stadium. And the Astroturf surface in Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, long known by players to be the worst in the country, had caused the Eagles to lose a number of key players. As sports columnist Bill Lyon pointed out, when you sit in the stands of Veterans Stadium, you can see the gaps where sections of Astrturf do not meet properly. When a player catches a foot in these gaps, the result can be a painful sprain or worse. The situations in Philadelphia and New Jersey are not unique. You can see the same problems in every stadium that has an Astroturf playing surface. For this reason, players, owners, and fans should insist that stadiums remove Astroturf and restore natural grass surfaces.
By Toni-Ann Marro, student, in Kirszner and Mandell, 105.)
Visual Images that Persuade
So far we have been talking about making an argument using words. Visual images can make arguments too. Advertising tries to persuade us to buy a product. Other "advertising" tries to persuade us to start doing something or to stop doing something–stop wearing fur, stop smoking, start working to have landmines banned, start giving money to support poor students. Look at the following images; each one makes a clear argument.
www.adbuster.org/creativeresistance/spoofads
www.adbusters.org/creativeresistance/spoofads
www.adbusters.org/creativeresistance/spoofads
www.adbusters.org/creativeresistance/spoofads
