The Aims of Argument: Text and Reader

The Aims of Argument, a comprehensive text for teaching argument, recognizes that people argue with a range of purposes in mind: to inquire, to convince, to persuade, and to negotiate. It offers a clear, logical learning sequence rather than merely a collection of assignments: inquiry is the search for truth, what we call an earned opinion, which then becomes the basis of efforts to convince others to accept our earned opinions.

Case-making, the essence of convincing, is then carried over into learning how to persuade, which, requires explicit attention to appeals to character, emotion, and style.

Finally, the previous three aims all play roles in negotiation, which amounts to finding and defending positions capable of appealing to all sides in a dispute or controversy.

Part 1: Resources for Reading and Writing Arguments

1. Understanding Argument

2. Reading an Argument

3. Analyzing an Argument: The Toulmin Method

4. Writing a Critique

5. Reading and Writing about Visual Arguments

6. Writing Research-Based Arguments

7. Ethical Writing and Plagiarism

Part 2: The Aims of Argument

8. Joining the Conversation: Arguing to Inquire

9. Making Your Case: Arguing to Convince

10. Motivating Action: Arguing to Persuade

11. Resolving Conflict: Arguing to Mediate

Part 3: Two Casebooks for Argument

12. The Consumer Society: The Urge to Splurge

13. Romantic Relationships: Sex, Love, and Maybe Marriage

Part 4: Readings: Issues and Arguments

14. Global Warming: What Should Be Done?

15. The Millennials: Issues Facing Young Adults

16. Immigration Revisited: A New Look at a Permanent Issue

17. Declining Civility: Is Rudeness on the Rise?

18. Enhancing Humans: How Far Is too Far?

Appendixes

A. A Guide to Editing and Proofing

B. Fallacies--and Critical Thinking

Glosssary

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