Basic Persuasion and Argumentation 1062014 The Elements of

Basic Persuasion and Argumentation (10/6/2014)

The Elements of Perusasion • • Ethos: Personal appeal (“street cred”) Pathos: emotional appeal Logos: logical appeal Kairos: temporal appeal (“we have to act NOW”)

Argument(ation) is movement • • • move an audience advance positions sway opponents redirect questioning follow lines of argument take logical leaps retreat from claims push issues drive points home come to conclusions arrive at a decision

Elements of Argument Claim: a statement you intend to prove. Support: the foundation for the claim; that which your audience already accepts. Inference: the rational connection between claim and support.

Simple Argument

Chain Argument

Compound Argument

Convergent Argument

Complex Argument

Argumentation The exchange of arguments between two, opposing positions. Pro: argues FOR a proposition Con: argues AGAINST a proposition Goal: to capture the acceptance of the audience.

Points of Stasis A point of stasis is an imagined place where competing arguments clash. Proposition: the major point of stasis in a debate Issue: the multiple, minor points of stasis within a proposition

Propositions

Points of Stasis A point of stasis is an imagined place where competing arguments clash. Proposition: the major point of stasis in a debate Issue: the multiple, minor points of stasis within a proposition

Issues

Movement & Issues

Issues

Movement & Issues

The utility of issues 1. Issues are useful to organize arguments made in the debate. 2. Issues are useful as starting points for developing and anticipating arguments that may be made in a debate. 3. Issues demonstrate the progression of thought that leads to a conclusion.

Typical Issues in Debates

Logical Progression of issues “The state should facilitate prisoners’ rights to procreation” 1. 2. 3. Should prisoners be afforded the right to procreate? Is the state obligated to “facilitate” a prisoner’s right to procreation? Do people have a right to procreate? 1. 2. 3. Do people have a right to procreate? Should prisoners be afforded the right to procreate? Is the state obligated to “facilitate” a prisoner’s right to procreation?

Logical Progression of issues “The use of tobacco products should be banned” 1. 2. 3. Will a ban produce significant economic consequences? Will a ban be effective in reducing rates of smoking? Does smoking produce public health impacts significant enough to warrant banning? 1. 2. 3. Does smoking produce public health risks significant enough to warrant banning? Will a ban be effective in reducing rates of smoking? Will a ban produce significant economic consequences?