Alternative Forms of Argument



Alternative Forms of Argument

Form Goals Techniques

|Motivational |Motivate in-party to act, not persuade |Discuss problem; describe negative effects of problem; propose |

| |opposition |solution and how situation would be improved if solution was |

| | |followed; conclude with specific action reader can take to |

| | |contribute to solution. (Hatch 202-207) |

|Classical |Persuade uncommitted; educate uniformed |Introduce problem, set context; state thesis; support thesis; |

| | |refute/clarify oppositional claims; conclude |

|Invitational Rhetoric |Not to persuade, but to offer invitation to |Offer perspectives by sharing knowledge, extending others' |

| |facilitate understanding, to exchange |ideas, thinking critically, re-framing issues. (Foss and |

| |perspectives, to create atmosphere of safety,|Griffin). |

| |to value freedom of others | |

|Delayed Thesis |To reach/persuade audience that is opposed to|Present reasons and/or anecdotes based on values shared by |

| |rhetor's position |audience and rhetor; place thesis at end. (Hatch 209-227) |

|Rogerian |Enhance communication and cooperation, reduce|Introduce problem, set context; summarize opposing views; state|

| |hostility, create mutually beneficial outcome|contexts in which opposing views have merit; state own claim; |

| | |state contexts in which your views have merit; state ways |

| | |opposition would benefit by sharing your views. (Miller 19-21; |

| | |Woods 246-252) |

|Mediation |To show interests parties have in common; to |Involves 3rd party. |

| |increase understanding between/ among | |

| |parties; to propose solution acceptable to |Analyze positions of all parties; expose underlying values, |

| |all parties |beliefs interests of all parties; find values, beliefs, |

| | |interests parties have in common to build consensus; find |

| | |mediating solution that accommodates at least some interests of|

| | |all parties. |

| | |(Crustus and Channell 153-156). |

Audience Analysis

Supportive Uncommitted Opposed

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Remember that the key for each argument type is to know your audience. You must try to find common values they share with you/your argument and persuade them by appealing to those values. The likelihood of winning over those who start in complete opposition to your position is not good. You should instead focus on those uncommitted folks still "on the fence" because they are the ones who will be open to hearing you in the first place.

Works Cited

Crusius, Timothy W. and Carolyn E. Channell The Aims of Argument: A

Rhetoric and Reader. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1995.

Foss, Sonja K. and Candy L. Griffin. "Beyond Persuasion: A Proposal for an

Invitation Rhetoric." Communication Monographs 62 (March 1995) 1-18.

Hatch, Gary Layne. Arguing in Communities. 2nd ed. Mountain View, CA:

Mayfield, 1999.

Miller, Robert K. The Informed Argument: A Multidisciplinary Reader and \

Guide, Fifth Edition. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1998.

Wood, Nancy V. Perspectives on Argument, Second Edition. Upper Saddle River,

NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.

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