An argument can be defined as providing convincing evidence for a point of view on a controversial issue and persuading an audience to agree with it. After reading this chapter, I definitely learned more about the concept of argument in greater depth. Arguments happen everyday, from arguing with my roommates about who is going to make breakfast, to trying to figure out whose turn is it to take out the trash. But in order to make a valid argument you must make a claim, and support it with reasons and evidence. One of the most important arguments I have ever got involved in was when I got into a car accident 2 years ago. I was driving in Downtown, Miami and a taxicab ran a red light and we collided. When I got out of the car to go talk to the cab driver, he confronted me saying that it was my fault and that I had the red light. After hearing his side of the story, I knew there was going to be an epic argument. I needed facts to prove that I did nothing wrong and that I had the green light. Thankfully, there were two men that witnessed the whole incident and were on my side. This type of argument is best described as a one-to-one, everyday argument because it is a more traditional argument in which someone wins or loses. In my case, I won this argument and did not receive the ticket for the accident.
A consensual argument in which both sides are agreeing is the most common for me today, especially in my classes. Dialect is an extremely important element for a good argument. In my journalism class, my professor Tom Hanson usually uses this type of argumentation, where two people participate as equals in a dialogue to try to discover what seems to be the best position on an issue. For example, last class we had to decide whether or not a football team should be added to the university. Those of us who agreed and disagreed had to argue on which position would be a better story for the eagle news. In this type of argument, there was no winning and no judge; you just had to voice your opinion. Learning that the team would be around $100 million to form and could possibly take another 7 years, our class disagreed with this story.
In order for an argument to be successful, there must always be an issue, an arguer, an audience, common ground, a forum, and finally audience outcomes. A good argument, to me is one in which all parties involved, do not raise their voice and share only truthful and accurate information and experiences, and allow each other equal time to express their views. Argument in the form of a point you are trying to make is when you know that you have something valuable to share with others and you have done all your homework on the subject, this makes a good argument.
Hi Julia, you seem to know exactly what you're talking about. I agree with your statement on how arguments happen everyday and that you must have a claim to make a valid argument. An argument can start with just someone disagreeing with another about global warming, which seem to be a big issue these days. A common argument that we encounter in school is students and teachers arguing about grades. Overall, your statements prove to be very well thought about and it would be difficult for someone to disagree with them.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I like the way you took the information from the book and applied it to your own life. I think we always learn more when we can see how what we are learning fits in to the bigger picture. I think your story about the accident in Miami with the cab driver started off as a “one- on- one, everyday argument”. But if he damaged your property I hope it turned into a “courtroom argument”. Wow, I can see how helpful it is, taking Enc. Comp II at the same time as a journalism course. They should dovetail nicely together. Especially, since journalism is rooted in argument. I predict that by the end of this semester you will be light years ahead most of your journalism class mate who have not taken Enc. Comp. II with Emily V. I believe you will be able to present clear and convincing arguments that persuade others on your unique prospective.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Julia and the book in the fact that argumentation is part of the day by day for most people, where in any of the situations of the regular life we can find very easy something to argue about it . Anyhow in this blog I found and idea that make thing about it, and the book mention as the ethics in the argumentation, when Julia comment about the incident with the taxi driver who ran the red light, and he was trying to convince Julia that was her. I am sure this is and nice example in what a unethical argument minds because in order to defend himself the taxi driver lie, and try to avoid his responsibility, even knowing that probably exist visual arguments that proof that he was in fact lying, like a witness or a video from security cameras. But what is really scary about this kind of situations is that a lot of times, for different circumstances, or the quality of the lawyer a lot of people can avoid responsibilities and harm the other party even if they don’t do anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with julia on the idea that arguments happen everyday. if the points to an argument weren't clear then we wouldn't know how to argue and get out point across.
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