English 1101 Handout Models of Argument
Overview Included here is a s umm ary of three three different different models of argument. These m odels p rovide rovide pos sibl e ways ways to organize an effective argument, which I hope will be helpful to your organization of your own argument. This information is sum marized from the following s ource: Georgia Georgia State University University,, Department of English. (2008). First Arguments: A Peer Approach to Persuasion . Plym Plym outh, Michig Michigan: an: Hayden McNeil.
The Classical Approach The class ical approach to argument is a m odel of argumentation invented invented by the the famous Greek philosopher Aris Aris totle. ItIt is bes t used wh en the purpos e of your your argum ent is to pers uade your audience to agree wi th your your point of view, view, take your your si de on an iss ue, or make a decis ion in your favor. favor. The The clas sical approach/Aristotelian approach/Aristotelian mo del relies heavily heavily on the use of ethos, ethos, pathos, and logo s app eals. The following is the typical typical organization organization pa ttern ttern for this approach: Introduction State your your case ca se --Clarify your is sue. Give Give any necess ary background for understanding the i ss ues. Define any im portant terms o f conditions conditions here. Propostion--St Propostion--State ate your your central proposition o r thesis . Present the sub topics or s upportive upportive points to forecast your argument for your reader. Refutation--A Refutation--Analy nalyz ze the oppos ition's argum ent and s umm arize arize it; refute refute or address the points; point out faulty faulty reasoning and inappropriate appeals . Substantiation and Proof --Dev Proof --Develop elop your your own case. Us e ethos, pathos, and logos appeal s to ma ke your case. Use good evidence such as examples . Conclusion
The Toulmin Approac Approach h This m odel of argumen t was developed by the British British philos opher Stephen Toulm Toulm in. The Toulm Toulm in Model is especiall y helpful when you try to make a case on controversial controversial iss ues that do not have have an abs olute truth truth as the Toulm Toulm in Model seeks to es tablish probabili ties rather than truth. truth. The following is a typical typical organization organization for the Toulmi n Model: Claims--T Claims--There're here're several several different types types of claims : claims of fact, fact, claim claim s of definition, definition, claims of cause, claim s o f value, value, and claims of policy. policy. You You can us e any one or m ore of these these claims to introduce your your iss ue and to establis h your your case. Data--I Data --Information nformation you you us e to sup port your your claim s. Warrant--T Warrant --The he as sum ption made b y a writer in order for the the claim to be true. Backing--What Backing--What you use to support the warrant. Rebuttal--T Rebuttal--This his is where you consider the oppos ing viewpoint and refute refute it. Qualifer --Use --Use lan guage that seeks to qualify the claims you m ake in order to bring your argument to a close.
The Rogerian Approach This is a mod el of argument named after the the psychologist Carl Rogers, who believed that that people could only resolve an is sue or sol ve a problem once they found the "common ground." A group of rhetoricians rhetoricians , Young, Young, Becker, Becker, and Pike, then then developed a m odel of argum ent named the Rogerian argum ent, which advocates advocates a way of argum argum ent that that is less confrontational, confrontational, les s one-s ided, and more comprom isi ng and deliberately
consens us-buil ding. The following are the usual elem ents of the Rogerian approach: An introduction that briefly and objectively defines the iss ue or problem A neutral, non-judgmental statem ent of the opponent's position , presented within valid contexts, that demons trates the writer clearly understands it A neutral statement and explanation of your position and the contexts in which it is valid An analysis of what the two posi tions have in comm on and what goals and values they share A proposal for resolving the iss ue in a way that recognizes the itnerests of both parties, or a statement of how the oppone nt's posi tion would bene fit if he were to adopt elements of the writer's position
Your Approach The above approaches provide proven organizational tools you could use for your argument. What approach you use, however, doesn't necessarily have to conform exactly to one of these approaches. In fact, it is quite comm on for people to combine so me of the elements of these approaches based on the needs of their argument.
