The Three Approaches to Argument

The Three Approaches to Argument

1. The Classical Approach to Argument

   • Introduction
     • Capturing the attention of your audience.
     • Convince your audience to agree with your point.
   • State Your Case
     • Provide background and key facts.
     • Define the importance of your case.
     • Explain things in an understanding matter.
   • Proposition
     • State you proposition.
     • Talk about certain topics.
     • Set up argument in appropriate order. Having the audience comprehend what you are proposing.
   • Proof
     • Discuss your reason of proposition.
     • Point out the positives and negative of facts you have provided.
     • Provide evidence followed upon the facts.
   • Refutation
     • Proposing view points
     • Expands on why your argument or proposal is the one your audience would agree with.
     • Propose how it could benefit your audience.
       • This is, This will, This must.
   • Conclusion
     • Choose a few of most important points and summarize them.
     • Appeal to the audiences feeling, coming from different point of views.
     • Remind audience how they may benefit from your opposing facts and knowledge.

2. The Toulmin Approach to Argument

   • Claim
     • State the main point of argument.
     • Define your position and why your point matters.
   • Grounds
     • Provide background knowledge.
     • Provide reasons that benefit your claim.
     • Use support for evidence.
   • Warrant
     • Provide reasons that back up other reasoning.
       • Casual, authority, analogy, etc.
     • Connect the data with the claim.
       • Explain why research goes along with what your claiming.
   • Backing
     • Reasons and Info that back up what you have proposed.
     • Supporting your warrant.
       • Justifying your reasons for the claim.
   • Qualification
     • Using key words like Always, Never, or Absolutely.
       • Using these words to qualify your warrant and backing.
     • Minimize words that allow argument to pose bigger picture.

3. The Rogerian Approach to Argument

   • Introduction
     • Discuss an issue and why it's at stake.
     • What can be solved or answered.
     • Find and discuss common ground.
   • Summarize Opposing Views
     • Verify that you understand other people's view points and beliefs.
     • Verify that you agree on most if not all levels of beliefs.
     • Create that ground level using a couple different approaches to understanding the argument on both sides.
   • Statement of Understanding
     • Talk about what positions have what in common.
     • Beliefs and knowledge that certain people share.
     • Explain reasons for your choosing.
   • Analysis
     • Putting together that common ground.
     • What can you and your opponet agree on?
     • Demonstrate how your position applies and how it can positively affect someone.
   • Proposal.
     • Offer a compromise.
     • Provide information enlisted from both sides.
       • Settle somewhere in the middle.
     • Resolve issue bringing in conclusions from both sides.