Ch. 13

Chapter 13 is about style in arguments.  It is important to have a certain style when arguing about a topic so that the audience can understand what you are trying to say.  There are 3 different types of styles. High which is formal or ornate.  Middle which is understated and very clear. Low which is everyday or humorous.  Word choice that you use helps define the style of your argument.  For serious topics one should use more formal words but for an argument trying to get teenagers to go to a concert one would want to use slang and less formal words.  It is about appealing to your audience.  Sentence structure is also important in that it defines the style of your argument.  You want to change up the lengths and type of sentences you are using so you do not bore your reader.  You want to change the sentences around so they do not all sound the same.  Punctuation is also very important.  The semicolon is not used very often anymore but it is a good way to show a break a bit smaller then a period.  Punctuation should be used so the reader understands the way they should understand what you are trying to say.  The chapter then goes on to talk about special effects and how using figurative language can benefit your argument.  

When I think about how you want your style to be when forming an argument I think about how often I do this when texting.  Texting is a great way to practice this stuff and we unknowingly do it everyday.  Everyone has had that time when they are texting someone when they think, “oh I hope they don’t take it the wrong way and they know I’m joking”.  This is why we have added lol and hahaha to show that what was said is supposed to be funny.  Emoticons help too in that they can show what the senders facial expressions are or what they are thinking.  I know people, girls especially, use exclamation points all the time.  The more the exclamation points means the happier and excited they are.  If someone text you “I can’t wait to see you!!!!” you are gonna take it that they are really excited to see you more then if they would have said “I can’t wait to see you”.  Also the way we type something by the use of uppercase or lowercase letters helps the person receiving the text understand what you are trying to say.  All uppercase symbolizes that you are screaming it or saying it really loud.  When we read the text in our head we read it in the way that it is typed.  Without us even knowing this we have been doing this everyday.  

Chapter 7

This chapter was about structuring a strong argument.  It starts off talking about inductive and deductive reasoning and the differences between both.  Inductive is the process of generalizing on the basis of a number of specific examples.  Deductive is reaching a conclusion by assuming a general principle.  In order to make a good argument you need various things to help you support it.  The classical oration follows  sequence of six parts.  It starts of with an introduction, then background, then lines of argument, then alternative arguments, then the conclusion.  The chapter then talks about rogerian arguments.  This is the idea that you should not respond to an argument unless you know the position of your opponent.  A Toulmin argument is a way to build an argument and test them.  For a Toulmin and Rogerian argument you need to offer evidence and good reasons for why your argument is the one we should believe.  You can put out a claim but that is not enough to make your argument win.  Once you have evidence behind that claim your argument enhances.  You also need a warrant to show how you got from the claim and data supporting it.  Another thing helping your argument is backing.  Backing is what fills in the holes of your argument.  When forming an argument you need to be aware of qualifiers which are words such as few, often, perhaps, possibly, etc. that can make or break your argument.  After you make an argument you should analyze it to make sure you have a strong argument.

I thought this chapter was very interesting and is going to help a lot for our next writing project.  The part that I found most interesting was the part about understanding conditions of rebuttals.  I liked this because knowing what your opponent will say can help you make a stronger argument.  If you fix your argument to not have any lose ends for your opponent to go with you have a better chance of winning.

Ch. 4 Arguments Based on Facts and Reason

This chapter is about developing an argument.  It gives example of what to have for you to have a solid argument.  There are various things such as hard evidence, statistics, surveys, testimonies, etc. for you to have a good argument.  Each thing has there good and bad.  You got to make sure you put together information that will benefit yourself.

This chapter was really interesting because I see these techniques used in the media everyday.  The part where they talk about providing hard evidence was interesting because of the Iranian missile test picture.  They first talked about how the picture of the Cuban missiles was very good evidence.  Then they went on to say how in this day and age you need to watch out for fake photos.  Picture were published in newspapers all around the world after Iran tested some missiles.  Some pictures have three being launched and some have four.  The question arrises which is the real photo.  People could have altered the picture to make it look more intense with an extra missile.

Having hard evidence is key.  I remember last year when President Obama was being scrutinized for not having a birth certificate because he never showed one.  If he would have just showed it right off the bat and didn't try to evade the conflict the situation would not have gotten as out of hand as it got.
 


Another way people win an argument is with statistics.  Statistics state what has happened with hard factual numbers.  However people can swing this in their favor.  The way one says certain statistics can determine what is thought about it.  

You could use these tips in real life everyday but especially if you want to become a politician.  Politics is all about arguments.  You must be better then your opponent so you need to show the people why you are better.  

Visual Argument

Everyday in our lives there are visual arguments.  Pictures that we see that portray a certain idea to us.  Every moment of the day there are logos or pictures that influence what you do.  Once we see these images it is hard to get them out of your mind.  We see an ad on tv or in a magazine and we want to go experience what they are doing.  People who make the ads make them in a way that will adhere to our senses.  They know what will make us want to go to that restaurant or believe a certain way.  After 9/11 the photo of the firefighters raising the flag at ground zero circled around the world.  It became a big hit and was made into a stamp.  It was a very emotional photo that sent tears running down many peoples faces.  It showed how the United States may have been hurt but they will rise again.  Americans were moved by the image.  It was used as a way to raise funds for people affected by the attacks.  By how emotional the picture was it made people want to donate and help.  The same thing goes for when Hurricane Katrina hit.  Pictures showed survivors on roof tops.  It seemed like a far away town, something out of a movie, and people were in great despair.  Mcdonalds and other fast food companies use the same techniques.  Their commercials make the food look good and healthy.  They make that McRib look like the most delicious thing you have ever seen.  The way an image is constructed makes the viewer think a certain way.  A darker image portrays a more serious situation and the opposite goes for a lighter image.  Certain images are better to keep simple so nothing distracts what you are trying to convey.  Images tell you a lot about what something will be like.  It may not be true but the maker wants to convey it.  You are always being influence by visuals.

WP1 idea:
My idea for project one is political ad's for the 2012 presidential and primary elections.  I really like to see the different ads and try to understand what they convey.  I believe this will be very interesting.

 

A Little Bit About Me

  I am Dillon Turner.  I was born and raised in Blandon, PA.  Everyone always asks me why I came all the way out to ASU to go to school and I always tell them because of the weather.  I love the weather out here.  I'm not a huge fan of Pennsylvania.  I like warm and dry weather so Arizona is perfect.
  I have 2 sisters and 1 brother, all of whom are older than me.  My one sister actually goes here.  My brother goes to UNH and my other sister graduated from SDSU.
  My major is Geography with Meteorology and Climatology.  I'm going to get a masters and hopefully PhD in Meteorology.  I want to research severe storms.  Ever since I was young I've been fascinated with weather. Anytime anything major was happening I was glued to the Weather Channel or the computer.
  Growing up I played every sport out there.  Then once I got in to high school I started to focus on just a couple sports.  Growing up I played soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, volleyball, and track and field.  Once high school came along I really started focusing on mainly golf but played basketball too.  I was the number 1 golfer on my high school team for my sophomore through senior year.
  Last semester I was introduced to some guys in Pi Kapp and so I rushed and pledged it.  I am now a member of this fraternity and it has been one of the best things of my life.  It is so much fun and I don't know what I'd do without it.
  That is a little bit about who I am.