Everyday Arguments: A Guide to Writing and Reading Effective Arguments

465 Pages·2008·2.99 MB·English

by  Katherine Mayberry

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E V E R Y D A Y
A R G U M E N T S
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E V E R Y D A Y
A R G U M E N T S
A Guide to Writing and Reading
Effective Arguments
THIRD EDITION
KATHERINE J. MAYBERRY
Rochester Institute of Technology
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
Boston New York
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Publisher: Patricia Coryell
Editor-in-Chief: Carrie Brandon
Sponsoring Editor: Lisa Kimball
Marketing Manager: Tom Ziolkowski
Senior Development Editor: Kathy Sands Boehmer
Senior Project Editor: Rosemary Winfield
Art and Design Manager: Jill Haber
Cover Design Manager: Anne Katzeff
Photo Editor: Jennifer Meyer Dare
Composition Buyer: Chuck Dutton
New Title Project Manager: Priscilla Manchester
Associate Editor: Sarah Truax
Marketing Associate: Bettina Chiu
Cover Image: Blue Rhapsody© Diana Ong / Superstock
Credits continue on page 427, which constitutes an extension of the copyright page.
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of
Houghton Mifflin Company unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal
copyright law. With the Exception of nonprofit transcription in Braille, Houghton
Mifflin is not authorized to grant permission for further uses of copyrighted
selections reprinted in this text. Permission must be obtained from the selections’
individual copyright owners as identified herein. Address inquiries to College
Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222 Berkeley Street, Boston,
MA 02116-3764.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2007932698
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 – EB– 11 10 09 08 07
ISBN 10: 0-618-98675-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-618-98675-0
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Brief Contents
CONTENTS vii
PREFACE xix
PART I WRITING ARGUMENTS 1
1 An Introduction to Argument 3
2 Where Writing Begins: Motives and Audience 14
3 The Claim 24
4 An Argument’s Support 43
5 Supporting Your Arguments Honestly and Effectively 68
6 Making Reasonable Arguments: Formal
and Informal Logic 86
7 Arguing Facts 103
8 Arguing Cause 119
9 Arguing Evaluations 144
10 Arguing Recommendations 170
11 Writing and Image 192
12 Introductions and Conclusions 204
13 Revising 216
v
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vi BRIEF CONTENTS
PART II READING ARGUMENTS 233
14 Today’s College Student 235
15 The Internet 265
16 Sports 299
17 Earning Your Living 340
18 Diet 365
19 Reading Popular Culture 389
CREDITS 427
INDEX 431
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Contents
PREFACE xix
P I W A 1
ART RITING RGUMENTS
1 An Introduction to Argument 3
AN EXTENDED DEFINITION 3
THE CLASSES OF ARGUMENT 5
ARGUMENT THROUGH IMAGE 6
THE ARGUMENT PROCESS 7
Forming the Argument 7
Supporting the Claim 8
Reviewing the Argument 9
READING ARGUMENTS 10
Reading as Evaluation 10
Additional Hints for Reading Critically 11
CONCLUSION 11
Summary: An Introduction to Argument 12
Suggestions for Writing (1.1) 12
2 Where Writing Begins: Motives and Audience 14
MOTIVES FOR WRITING 14
The Value of Dissonance 15
Writing Arguments That Are Meaningful to You 16
Activities (2.1) 17
vii
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viii CONTENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF AUDIENCE 17
Who Is the Audience? 17
Activities (2.2) 19
Why Will the Audience Read the Argument? 20
Activities (2.3) 20
What Should the Audience Be Able to Do After Reading
the Argument? 21
Activities (2.4) 22
Summary: Where Writing Begins 22
Suggestions for Writing (2.5) 22
3 The Claim 24
HOW CLAIMS WORK 24
Finding a Claim 25
Keeping Your Working Claim Flexible 27
Activities(3.1) 28
Positioning the Claim 29
Claim Stated Up Front 29
Claim Stated at the End of the Argument 30
Unstated Claim in an Argument 30
Activities (3.2) 31
CLASSIFYING YOUR CLAIM 31
Factual Claims 31
Activities (3.3) 33
Causal Claims 33
Activities (3.4) 34
Evaluations 35
Activities (3.5) 37
Recommendations 37
Activities (3.6) 38
Combination Claims 39
Activities (3.7) 40
Summary: The Claim 41
Suggestions for Writing (3.8) 42
4 An Argument’s Support 43
SOME VARIETIES OF SUPPORT 44
Secondary Claims 44
Activities (4.1) 45
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CONTENTS ix
Comparisons 45
Appeals to Authority 45
Appeals to Audience Needs and Values 46
Activities (4.2) 46
Addressing the Counterargument 46
SUPPORTING YOUR ARGUMENT VISUALLY 48
Charts 49
Pie Chart 49
Bar/Column Chart 50
Line Graphs 51
When Is a Chart Appropriate? 52
What Is the Best Type of Chart to Use? 53
Using Charts Responsibly 53
Tables 54
Pictorial Images 56
Diagrams 56
Cartoons and Drawings 57
Photographs 58
Activities (4.3) 59
ARRANGING YOUR ARGUMENT’S SUPPORT 59
Activities (4.4) 60
DEFINITIONS 61
When to Define 62
Types of Definitions 63
Activities (4.5) 66
Summary: An Argument’s Support 66
Suggestions for Writing (4.6) 67
5 Supporting Your Arguments Honestly and Effectively 68
PLAGIARISM AND WRITTEN ARGUMENTS 69
Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism 70
Quotations 70
Paraphrases 70
Summaries 71
Primary or Secondary Sources? 71
Facts 71
Internet Material 72
Plagiarism Illustrated 72
Plagiarism 1 72
Plagiarism 2 73
Plagiarism 3 73