Defination argument

Claim: Karl Marx (A) is a revolutionary (B).

Qualifier: (not necessary)

Grounds (characteristics of A): Karl Marx stated that capitalist society is in conflict between the poor (the proletariat) and the rich (the bourgeoisie), thought that through education and personal development the workers (the proletariat) would realize that they had the power to change things, and advocated for workers (the proletariat) to overthrow their oppressors (private ownership, big business: the bourgeoisie) and take control of their own destiny (and thought that this radical change could only happen through revolution).

Enthymeme/Thesis Statement (claim + grounds): Karl Marx is a revolutionary because he thought that capitalist society is in conflict, thought that the poor/workers could attain power, and advocated for the workers (the proletariat) to overthrow their oppressors (the bourgeoisie) and take control of their own destiny through revolution.

Warrant (characteristics of B): A revolutionary recognizes conflict and the need for change, sees the forces vital for that change, and works for, or engages in, political revolution (Wikipedia: Revolutionary).

Evidence 1: The capitalist society is in conflict between the poor (the proletariat) and the rich (the bourgeoisie): “The existence of a class which possesses nothing but its capacity to labour is a necessary requisite for capital” (Wage Labour and Capital, p. 208).

Evidence 2: Through education and personal development, at least some of the workers (the proletariat) will realize that they have the power to change things: “…with the development of industry the proletariat not only increases in number; it becomes concentrated in greater masses, its strength grows, and it feels that strength more.” (Manifesto of the Communist Party, p. 480).

[Evidence 4:]

[Evidence 5:]

Microtheme:

[claim:] Karl Marx (A) is a revolutionary (B). [qualifier: (if applicable)] [warrant:] A revolutionary recognizes conflict and the need for change, sees the forces vital for that change, and works for, or engages in, political revolution. [grounds:] Karl Marx stated that capitalist society is in conflict between the poor (the proletariat) and the rich (the bourgeoisie), thought that through education and personal development at least some of the workers (the proletariat) would realize that they had the power to change things, and advocated for workers (the proletariat) to overthrow their oppressors (private ownership, big business: the bourgeoisie) and take control of their own destiny (and this radical change could only happen through revolution). [evidence 1:] Anyone that has to work for a living knows for sure that there is a definite class conflict in play today. It might not seem like we are being oppressed by our bosses, they control the mode of production and we are merely minions. [evidence 2:] While we might have the power to overcome the oppression of our bosses (the bourgeoisie), we must recognize ourselves that we have the power and we must be able, and willing, to exercise that power. [evidence 3:] Once our oppression under the capitalist system reaches a breaking point, we must assert ourselves, loosen our fetters, and revolt! [rebuttal:] Although there are those that would debate our call to revolution because we are mistaken in our assumptions about the nature and extent of our oppression, [refutation of rebuttal:] these people are obviously still laboring behind the blinders of our ancestors and will never lose their shackles.

Video content:

Brief Introduction to Marxism (duration 4:26)