ENGL1133 Essay #1: Critical Response

Argument: An Introduction

What do we mean by an argument?

In order to understand what argument is, let us first understand what it isn’t.

Argument is not a Quarrel or fight: The first thing that comes to mind when one

thinks about an argument is heated disagreement, rising pulse rate, an urge to slam

doors etc. We relate argument to anger and hostility; but in reality argument does not

imply anger. In fact arguing is often pleasurable. It is a creative and productive

activity that engages us at high level of inquiry and critical thinking. A good

argument helps seek possible solution to a problem.

Argument is not a pro–con debate: Another popular image of argument is debate.

Now let us first understand what a debate is: A debate is a formal contest of

argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given

proposition. While formal debate can develop critical thinking, its weakness is that it

can turn argument into a game of winners and losers rather than a process of

cooperative inquiry.

An argument is not a game, neither is there any competition to be won. Argument

requires: extensive critical thinking, study and truth seeking inquiry. Debates do not

always propose a solution, but arguments do.

ex: former debate champion (prisons)

Argument can be Explicit or Implicit: Arguments can either be explicit or

implicit.

An Explicit argument states directly a controversial claim and supports it with reasons

and evidence, to persuade its audience towards a certain point of view.

An Implicit argument, on the other hand, doesn’t look like an argument. It may be a

poem or short story, a photograph or cartoon, a personal essay or an autobiographical

narrative. But like an explicit argument, it persuades its audience towards a certain

point of view.

eg: Veterans day photograph (pg: 5)

The Defining features of Argument: The three defining features of an argument

are:

(i) Argument requires justification of claims

(ii) Argument is both a process and a product

(iii) Argument combines truth seeking and persuasion

(i) Argument requires justification of claims: An arguer is obligated to

clarify and support the reasons he/she presents.

eg: young person & parent (pg: 8-9)

(ii) Argument is both a process and a product: Argument can be viewed

as a process in which two or more parties seek the best solution to a question or

a problem.

Argument can also be viewed as a product, each product being any person’s

contribution to the conversation at a given moment.

Argument combines truth seeking and persuasion:

What is persuasion?

Persuasion means to win over to a belief.

Considering argument as a product, the writer will find himself/herself continually

moving back and forth between truth seeking and persuasion – that is between

questions about the subject matter (what is the best solution to the given problem?)

and about the audience (what do my readers already believe or value? What reasons

and evidence will most persuade them?)

So you weave your argument back and forth between – subject and audience, but with

varying degrees of emphasis.

eg: A student trying to persuade her college chair person to consider American

Sign language (ASL) as a foreign language course. (pg:11-12)

{focuses her research only on subject matter [ASL is a distinct language

(unique)] (researches: linguists, neurologists, psychologists, sociologists)}

{second time focuses on audience, researches the history of foreign language

requirements at her college[interviewed Foreign language teachers] ( who

thought ASL was easy)}

Now the question arises, is the arguer’s first obligation to truth or to winning the

argument?

There are often different degrees of truth and different kinds of truths for different

situations or cultures. We live in a pluralistic, multicultural world with different

visions of truth.

Thus, seeking truth means, to seek the best or most just solution to a problem while

observing all available evidence, listening with an open mind to the views of all

stakeholders, clarifying and attempting to justify your values and assumptions, and

taking responsibility for your argument.