The market-leading guide to arguments, Writing Arguments has proven highly successful in teaching readers to read arguments critically and to produce effective arguments of their own.

Table of Contents:
Brief Contents   Detailed Contents   Color Plates   Preface     Acknowledgments   I. OVERVIEW OF ARGUMENT   1. Argument: An Introduction What Do We Mean by Argument? Wilfred Owen, "Dulce et Decorum Est" The Defining Features of Argument Argument and the Problem of Truth A Successful Process of Argumentation: The Well-Functioning Committee Gordon Adams, Petition to Waive the University Math Requirement (student essay) 2. Reading Arguments                 Why Reading Arguments Is Important for Writers             Strategy 1: Reading as a Believer             Lisa Turner, "Playing with Our Food"             Strategy 2: Reading as a Doubter             Strategy 3: Exploring How Rhetorical Context and Genre Shape the Argument             Strategy 4: Seeking Out Alternative Views and Analyzing Sources of Disagreement             Council for Biotechnology Information, "Why Biotech Labeling: Why Biotech Labeling Can Confuse Consumers"             An Analysis of the Sources of Disagreement between Lisa Turner and the Council for Biotechnology Information             Strategy 5: Using Disagreement Productively to Prompt Further Investigation   3. Writing Arguments                 Who Writes Arguments and Why?             Tips for Improving Your Writing Process             Using Exploratory Writing to Discover Ideas and Deepen Thinking             Shaping Your Argument: Classical Argument as a Planning Tool             Discovering Ideas: Two Sets of Exploratory Writing Tasks             Writing Assignments for Chapters 1-3 II. PRINCIPLES OF ARGUMENT   4. The Core of an Argument: A Claim With Reasons                 An Introduction to the Classical Appeals             Issue Questions as the Origins of Argument             Difference between a Genuine Argument and a Pseudo-Argument             Frame of an Argument: A Claim Supported by Reasons             Application of This Chapter's Principles to Your Own Writing             Application of This Chapter's Principles to the Reading of Arguments   5. The Logical Structure of Arguments                 An Overview of Logos: What Do We Mean by the “Logical Structure” of an Argument?             Adopting a Language for Describing Arguments: The Toulmin System             Using Toulmin's Schema to Determine a Strategy of Support             The Power of Audience-Based Reasons   6. Using Evidence Effectively                 General Principles for the Persuasive Use of Evidence             Rhetorical Understanding of Evidence             Gathering Evidence             Writing Assignments for Chapters 4-6             David Langley, “'Half-Criminals' or Urban Athletes? A Plea for Fair Treatment of Skateboarders" (student essay)   7. Moving Your Audience: Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos                 Ethos and Pathos as Persuasive Appeals: An Overview             How to Create an Effective Ethos: The Appeal to Credibility             How to Create Pathos: The Appeal to Beliefs and Emotions             Using Images for Emotional Appeal             Kairos: The Timeliness and Fitness of Arguments   8. Accommodating Your Audience: Treating Differing Views                 One-Sided, Multi-Sided, and Dialogic Arguments             Determining Your Audience's Resistance to Your Views             Appealing to a Supportive Audience: One-Sided Argument             Appealing to a Neutral or Undecided Audience: Classical Argument             Marybeth Hamilton, "First Place: A Healing School for Homeless Children" (student essay)             Appealing to a Resistant Audience: Dialogic Argument             Ellen Goodman, "Minneapolis Pornography Ordinance"             Rebekah Taylor, "A Letter to Jim" (student essay)             Writing Assignments for Chapters 7 and 8   9. Conducting Visual Arguments                 Understanding Design Elements in Visual Argument             Drug Enforcement Administration, "A Single Hit of Ecstasy" (advocacy advertisement)             Common Sense for Drug Policy, "What We Know About Ecstasy" (advocacy advertisement)             The Compositional Features of Photographs and Drawings             The Genres of Visual Argument             The Pro-Choice Public Education Project, "When Your Right..." (advocacy advertisement)             Constructing Your Own Visual Argument             Leah Johnson, "Drink and Then Drive? Jeopardize My Future?" (student poster)             Using Information Graphics in Arguments             Incorporating Graphics into Your Argument             Writing Assignments for Chapter 9 III. ARGUMENTS IN DEPTH: SIX TYPES OF CLAIMS   10. An Introduction to the Types of Claims                 An Overview of the Types of Claims             How Knowledge of Claim Types Will Help You Focus an Argument and Generate Ideas             Hybrid Arguments: How Claim Types Work Together in Arguments             *Aaron Friedman, "All That Noise for Nothing"   11. Categorical and Definitional Arguments: X Is (Is Not) a Y   An Overview of Categorical Arguments Simple Categorical Arguments An Overview of Definitional Arguments The Criteria-Match Structure of Definitional Arguments Conceptual Problems of Definition Kinds of Definitions Strategies for Defining the Contested Term in a Definitional Argument Conducting the Match Part of a Definitional Argument Writing a Definitional Argument Writing Assignment for Chapter 11 Questioning and Critiquing a Definitional Argument Readings *"Low-Carb Diets Unhealthy Trend" Kathy Sullivan, "Oncore, Obscenity, and the Liquor Control Board" (student essay) Charles Krauthammer, "This Isn't a 'Legal' Matter, This Is War" *Eugene Volokh, "You Can Blog, But You Can’t Hide" 12. Causal Arguments: X Causes (Does Not Cause) Y   An Overview of Causal Argument. The Nature of Causal Arguing Describing a Causal Argument in Toulmin Terms Three Methods for Arguing That One Event Causes Another Glossary of Terms Encountered in Causal Arguments Writing Your Causal Argument Writing Assignment for Chapter 12 Questioning and Critiquing a Causal Argument Readings Daeha Ko, "The Monster That Is High School" (student essay) United Way, "Kids Who Do Not Participate..." (advocacy advertisement) *Olivia Judson, "Different but (Probably) Equal" *Carlos Macias, "The Credit Card Company Made Me Do It!" (student writer) 13. Resemblance Arguments: X Is (Is Not) Like Y   An Overview of Resemblance Arguments Arguments by Analogy Arguments by Precedent Writing a Resemblance Argument Writing Assignment for Chapter 13 Questioning and Critiquing a Resemblance Argument Readings Megan Matthews, "Whales Need Silence" (student essay) *Matthew Miller, "It Shouldn’t Take a Disaster to Help America’s Blameless" Sven Van Assche, "Knock! Knock!" (political cartoon) Susan Brownmiller, from "Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape" 14. Evaluation and Ethical Arguments: X Is (Is Not) a Good Y                 An Overview of Evaluation Arguments             Criteria-Match Structure of Evaluation Arguments             Conducting a Categorical Evaluation Argument             An Overview of Ethical Arguments             Two Major Ethical Systems             Conducting an Ethical Argument             Common Problems in Making Evaluation Arguments             Writing an Evaluation Argument             Writing Assignment for Chapter 14             Questioning and Critiquing an Evaluation Argument             Readings             Sam Isaacson, "Would Legalization of Gay Marriage Be Good for the Gay Community?" (student essay)             Tiffany Anderson, "A Woman's View of Hip Hop" (student essay)             *Mike Luckovich, "The Military’s Raising the Enlistment Age" (political cartoon)             *Geoffrey Johnson, "Marking Earth Day Inc."             *David Holcberg, "Human Organs for Sale?"   15. Proposal Arguments: We Should (Should Not) Do Y   An Overview of Proposal Arguments The Structure of Proposal Arguments Special Concerns for Proposal Arguments Developing a Proposal Argument Proposal Arguments as Advocacy Posters or Advertisements Using the Claim-Type Strategy to Develop a Proposal Argument Using the “Stock Issues” Strategy to Develop a Proposal Argument Writing a Proposal Argument Writing Assignment for Chapter 15 Questioning and Critiquing a Proposal Argument Readings Laurel Wilson, "A Proposal to Provide Tips for Hosts at Stone's End" (student essay) Mark Bonicillo, "A Proposal for Universal Health Insurance in the United States" (MLA-style student research paper) *Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, "More Kids Are Getting Brain Cancer.  Why?" (advocacy advertisement) *Maia Szalavitz, "Let a Thousand Licensed Poppies Bloom" IV. THE RESEARCHED ARGUMENT 16. Finding and Evaluating Sources               Formulating a Research Question             Understanding Differences in the Kinds of Sources             Finding Books: Searching Your Library's Online Catalog             Finding Print Articles: Searching a Licensed Database             Finding Cyberspace Sources: Searching the World Wide Web             Reading Your Sources Rhetorically             Taking Effective Notes             Evaluating Sources             Understanding the Rhetoric of Web Sites             National Resources Defense Council, "Spread of Active Sonar Threatens Whales" (web page)   17. Using, Citing, and Documenting Sources               Using Sources for Your Own Purposes             Creating Rhetorically Effective Attributive Tags             Working Sources into Your Own Prose             Avoiding Plagiarism             Understanding Parenthetical Citation Systems with Bibliographies             Understanding MLA Style             Understanding APA Style             Megan Matthews, "Sounding the Alarm: Navy Sonar and the Survival of Whales" (student research paper) APPENDICES Appendix 1: Informal Fallacies The Problem of Conclusiveness in an Argument An Overview of Informal Fallacies Fallacies of Pathos Fallacies of Ethos Fallacies of Logos Appendix 2: The Writing Community: Working in Groups From Conflict to Consensus: How to Get the Most Out of the Writing Community Forming Writing Communities: Skills and Roles Group Project: Holding a “Norming Session” to Define “Good Argumentative Writing” "Bloody Ice" "RSS Should Not Provide Dorm Room Carpets" "Sterling Hall Dorm Food" "ROTC Courses Should Not Get College Credit" "Legalization of Prostitution" A Classroom Debate Credits     Index