Instruction
Write: Essay #3
Composition Strategies:
Argument: A formal, logical (written or oral) attempt to convince an audience to:
Accept an opinion
Take some action
OR Both of the above
Audience: Because your mission in argument is to convince the audience of something, consideration of the audience is paramount in crafting a successful argument. Just because we think, feel or believe something, does not mean that everyone else does... or should. Therefore, we must understand and consider the values and needs of our audience as we develop arguments we hope will convince them of something.
Evidence: Because arguments must be grounded in logic, the position(s) we take in argument must be supported by credible evidence.
Individual opinions are important, but opinion is NOT evidence—do not confuse them. When we say “I think, I feel or I believe. . .,” we are simply expressing our opinions, we are NOT contributing any evidence in support of the argument. We must constantly be aware that our opinions are exactly that—opinion. . . they are not facts or evidence.
You may choose from a number of different types of credible evidence to support the points in your argument, such as: facts, statistics, expert testimony, personal experience, etc.
Three Means of Persuasion in Argument:
Ethos – the ethical appeal, an appeal based on the credibility of the writer—grounded in the character and/or the position of the writer.
Logos – the logical appeal, an appeal to the audience’s reason based on such techniques as examples, inductive and deductive reasoning, definition of terms, critique of the opponent’s logic, etc.
Pathos – the emotional appeal, based on evoking particular emotions in the reader, such as fear, envy, patriotism, lust, etc.
Methods for Achieving the Rhetorical Appeals in Your Writing:
Ethos: The Appeal to Credibility
Be knowledgeable about the topic
Do your homework
Build a sound case: use plenty of accurate, appropriate data
Demonstrate fairness
Express an understanding of the opposing view
Convey empathy for particular elements of the opposing view
Build a bridge to the audience
Ground arguments in shared values and assumptions
Logos: The appeal to Reason
Arrange and present material logically
Support claims with evidence and examples that make sense
Gather evidence from credible sources
Pathos: The Appeal to Emotion
Appropriate language choice
Concrete language and specific details
Vivid examples and illustrations
Suitable metaphors and analogies
Sensitivity to audience values
Avoid biased/slanted language that distorts the truth
Information for Essay #3 – Literary Analysis
Prompt: In the opening of the book, Take This Man, the author speaks of the father son relationship as a path. “First I was forced to accept them, then slowly I trusted them, then I grew to love them. Then they left.” Explain this pattern for two of Skyhorse’s “fathers,” mentioning what he learned from them and what he took on as a part of himself.
Criteria:
MLA format
Length: 4-5 pages.
Submit through Turn