Constructing Logical Arguments CM220

Developing an Argument for Change

CM 220 Module 2 Competency Assessment

Part I: Thesis Review the Module 2 reading on thesis statements and identifying the underlying assumption and common ground. You may also want to review the Writing Center’s Writing a Thesis Statement.

What is your thesis statement (claim + reason)?

While many theme parks focus on providing the best possible experience to all guests, many times guests with disabilities are left out of this thought process. In order to provide an equal, safe, and seamless experience for all guests, theme park leadership must find reasonable accommodations and alternative experiences for guests of varying abilities.

What is the underlying assumption (minor premise) for your thesis?

The underlying assumption is that theme parks are eager to create special experiences and memories for most of their audience, but often do not have the comfortability or experience needed to create rides, shows, activities, and accommodations for guests with disabilities.

What common ground do you anticipate that you will share with your audience?

At its heart, the theme park industry is meant for people who are truly passionate about providing lasting memories for all guests, regardless of race, class, gender, or disability. While I believe that the audience (theme park executives and senior leadership) wants to provide the best possible experience for guests with disabilities, they may not have the necessary training or knowledge to do so.

Part II: Problem- Overview

Review the Module 1 reading on the rhetorical situation.

What is your purpose? How would you describe the problem and what are examples that illustrate the problem?

The purpose is to convince leadership to add certain equipment, training, and accommodations to their park, thus improving the experience of guests with disabilities. The problem is that theme parks currently do not have enough resources available to both guests and employees for comfortable interactions and experiences with guests of varying abilities. These types of issues have recently gone viral, as major players in the theme park industry have seen lawsuits and negative publicity attributed to their lack of accessibility. For instance, a “LEGOLAND Florida Resort employee forced a 10-year-old boy to remove his prosthetic leg before using a water slide” (White, 2020, p. 1). This type of situation could be avoided if proper training was given to all employees upon hiring. While there is current training in place, this incident reinforces that it is not satisfactory. When visiting Universal Orlando Resort, Jessica Cox (2015), stated she, “was frustrated that the theme park was being advertised as a welcoming environment when my experience of being excluded just demonstrated that it is not” (p. 10). This emphasizes that theme parks are not providing pre-arrival knowledge to guests with disabilities, when this is one of the most valuable resources parks

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can provide to them.

Describe your audience. How does the issue affect different community stakeholders? Who would be underrepresented stakeholders? Who can implement your proposed solution?

The audience consists of esteemed and experienced theme park professionals, including operations management, marketing management, and executives. The issue affects each area as there is a sense of shared accountability in this business. However, it is important to note that there are different levels of importance to each sect. For instance, operations management is perhaps the most underrepresented stakeholder, as they are the teams that must personally deal with any issues that arise due to accessibility. There should be additional stakeholders who are able to share their experiences and relate to the experiences listed here. In terms of implementation, responsibility does rest on everyone’s shoulders; however, the culture change starts at the top. The executive team will need to buy into this persuasion and mandate changes to improve the theme park experience for guests with disabilities.

How would you describe your setting? What are key elements of the setting that affect the problem?

The setting is Orange County, NY, which is renowned for its accessibility. Due to accessibility being at the forefront of local businesses and citizens, it will be imperative to develop world-class trainings and experiences for guests with disabilities

Part III: The Appeals Review the “Three Appeals of Argument” podcast in Module 2 reading. Respond in full paragraphs for each of the appeals and include specific examples to illustrate how you will use those appeals. Reference at least one source that you can use to support your claims, and also be sure to identify a particular logical fallacy and how you will avoid it in the logos section. For more on fallacies, review How to Support an Argument and Avoid Logical Fallacies.

How will you use the ethos appeal? How will you ensure your audience trusts you? Who might be stakeholders that may have reservations or negative results from the proposed solution?

In order to use the ethos appeal, I will need to convince my audience that I have an abundance of experience in this sector and have completed trainings and certifications pertinent to the topic. I would first list my career summary, specifically highlighting my achievements and successes with communities of people with disabilities. I would also list my relevant certifications and trainings so that this would all be visible for the audience. The only potential reservations stakeholders may have because of this is if they too took a similar training or completed a similar certification that they found to be ineffective. For instance, I have certifications through Autism Speaks, but the organization itself is not free of controversy. According to Luterman (2020), “Autism Speaks has actively contributed to the hostility that autistic people face” (p.4). This damning article in the Washington Post could affect a stakeholder’s judgement against me, causing them to think my credentials are invalid.

How will you use the pathos appeal?

In order to use the pathos appeal, I will include emotional anecdotes from guests affected by theme park experiences that were not accessible. By doing

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What are ways you can connect with your audience? What might be specific examples that you could use to illustrate the problem?

this, it will be easier for the audience to feel as if they are in a guest with disabilities’ shoes. By garnering this emotional response, key stakeholders will be more likely to support my ideas. A specific example I will use is an article that extrapolates on the previously mentioned issue at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. This article goes into detail about the emotional stress the boy went through having to remove his prosthetic leg, sobbing while having to do so. This type of emotional response from the audience will only further support my main ideas of improved training and accessibility.

How will you use the logos appeal? What evidence supports that this is the best solution? What research will you need to conduct? What is one source you have found that will help you support your claims? What are rival hypotheses you will need to address?

In order to use the logos appeal, I will employ two different thought processes. The first is showing that ticket prices are the same for all guests, regardless of disabilities. If guests with disabilities are paying the same ticket price, they should receive the same memorable experiences as those without disabilities. The second is that historically, parks that put accessibility at the forefront of their planning are more profitable. The more profitable a park is, the better work experience and guest experience for everyone. In terms of research, I will need to present a graph of ticket prices, showing the actual value of tickets vs. the perceived value of guests with disabilities. This could be completed by choosing rides and experiences that are inaccessible and subtracting their value from the ticket price, thus showing the dichotomy of what the guest is paying for and what they are actually receiving. Other research that will be needed is to show a company who saw increased profits once enacting more accessible experiences. One example of this is an article from Bureau of Internet Accessibility (2019), which states, “Not every business has caught up with the times — and as a result, they’re leaving huge sums of money on the table. Not only is digital accessibility the right thing to do from a legal and moral standpoint, it also makes sense economically” (p. 3). This article also includes facts and figures that logically support my argument. In terms of a rival hypothesis that will need to be combated, a member of leadership may claim that we could save money by not spending it on trainings, enhanced experiences, and research. However, this argument is quickly negated using the aforementioned source, proving that accessibility increases profitability.

What is a specific logical fallacy (like a hasty generalization) that you will need to avoid and how do you plan to avoid that fallacy?

One fallacy I will need to avoid is the False Authority fallacy. Many times, the theme park industry looks to agencies, professors, and doctors who have had an abundance of experience to make comments on their accessibility. Realistically, my credentials could come into question. In order to mitigate this fallacy, I will need to present my own personal credentials somewhere in the paper. These credentials include professional trainings, certifications, and personal experiences, which will assist in establishing myself as a true authority figure when it comes to guests with disabilities.

References:

Cox, J. (2015). Excluded and Frustrated at Universal Orlando. Humanity & Inclusion. https://www.hi-

us.org/exclusion

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Luterman, S. (2020, February 14). Autism Speaks. The Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/02/14/biggest-autism-advocacy-group-is-

still-failing-too-many-autistic-people/

White, G. (2020, December 7). Lawsuit: Legoland made boy remove prosthetic leg. The Ledger.

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2020/12/07/suit-legoland-made-10-year-old-

remove-prosthetic-leg-water-slide/3859199001/

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