Reading Summary - Unit Three

From the beginning of the chapter fifteen “Proposal Arguments” overview it is very easy to see that proposal arguments are widely used everywhere in society today.  The overview clearly explains and defines the two types of proposal arguments; practical proposals and policy proposals.  Practical proposals are very common to me as a manager.  I find myself building and proposing practical arguments several times each day for the rest of my life.  Practical proposals, in my translation of the chapter’s text, are very detailed and minute-to-minute types of issue proposal arguments.  In this type of argument I can see having a clear and logical structure being of the utmost importance. The rhetorical triangle is obviously equally important with this and every argument type.  Policy proposals, in my translation of the chapter’s text, are broad and long-term types of issue proposal arguments that, though common, are extensively researched and developed over a long period of time.  I also can see the importance of clear structure and rhetorical writing knowledge with policy proposal reading and writing.  The bottom line of the overview is value; the value of learning to identify and write proposal arguments. (Ramage 311)

The body of the chapter has a familiar focus on logos, the structure portion of argumentative writing.  The structures of proposal arguments, just as with ethical and globalization arguments, use the Toulmin Analysis framework when structure is important to the writer.  This structure begins with an enthymeme, or claim and supporting reason for the claim.  Following the claim and supporting reason is the grounds, or supporting evidence for the claim and reason.  Following the enthymeme claim and supporting reasons is the warrant and warrant backing.  The ultimate focus of the logos in proposal arguments, as I understand it through the reading of the chapter, is to minimize the rebuttal possibility by covering all of the “special concerns” that proposal arguments can entail. (Ramage 312-14)

The closing of the chapter on proposal arguments outlines in detail the importance of convincing the audience that a real problem exists through calling the audience’s attention to the specific problem and importance of action early on in the argument.  Also in the closing of the chapter is an explanation of the need to justify the proposal to the audience.  It is also noted that, depending on the specific rhetorical context of the argument, a different level justification may be necessary for arguments that could be taken harder by the audience versus the level of justification necessary for simple and less complex issues.  Ending the chapter is a brief summary of proposal arguments as advertisements.  This, I assume, is brief because of the previous chapter that is dedicated fully to visual arguments and the strong rhetorical presence that advocacy posters and argumentative advertisements have in today’s society. (Ramage 316-22)

Throughout the chapter, in my opinion, is a very eye-opening reminder of the huge role that rhetoric plays in everyday life.  I assume that this feeling is shared by many but the knowledge of rhetorical analysis and argumentative writing seems to be shared by only a limited few.  I know that the use of proposal argument in the workplace is more than common for me and the management teams that I work with on a daily basis than it is for the general public.  I am very surprised and slightly disappointed that I haven’t been previously educated on the development and analysis of proposal argument reading and writing.  With that said, I am also very thankful that I am learning this now and will have it to use and teach at home and at work.

           

           

           

Work Cited

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean and June Johnson. Writing Arguments:  A Rhetoric with Readings.  8^th Edition.  New York:  Longman, 2010. Print.

Response to Sherry Lee’s “Unit 2 Reading Summary”

            I love to keep up with current events including the blog feeds to which I subscribe.  Prior to posting my summary to the reading request I just happened to read Sherry Lee’s “Unit 2 Reading Summary.”  This isn’t typically a post that I would choose to write a response about but I was and still am in need of any insight concerning argument and rhetoric that I can get my hands upon.  I am very glad that I was compelled to read Sherry’s post because it helped me to absorb some aspects of the reading better, realize that I didn’t absorb some aspects at all, and also caused me to adjust my understanding of arguments a bit.

            I take for granted at times that others’ might understand and summarize reading in very different ways.  My summary follows the book and summarizes the pertinent aspects of the “look” of rhetoric.  Sherry’s summary also follows the book but, through a different lens, describes some of the other very pertinent aspects of rhetoric and rhetorical analysis.  The “dialogic strategies” analysis and summary is just a single example of how Sherry and I view the concepts differently with regard to importance.  I didn’t even mention the description of the “dialogic strategies” or “analogy” rhetorical strategy. 

            I do not feel that reading for logic is a natural strength of mine, as the previous paragraph clearly describes, though I do love to read when the subject of the reading takes my interest.  I feel that Sherry’s summary moves me to take another look at the reading and make a few more notes.  Thanks to Sherry, I will apply this mini-lesson throughout my college career and day-based career.  There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I have a lot to learn about rhetoric, reading, and responses.

The Rhetorical Triangle

          I love to have a hand in anything that is management-related.  I am constantly challenged to build something from nothing and I love it.  The simple word “triangle” evokes in me a similar fire, a passion deep down that sparks patterns of thought and ideas that can be tied to nearly anything I put my work-stained hands upon.  I, unlike most, enjoy writing because of the power that words hold.  A well-worded e-mail can provoke change in a process that is unthinkable over the phone.  With logos that e-mail will have a unique structure.  With ethos that e-mail will have the power of documentation through evidence.  With pathos the e-mail will have strength of supporting words that will keep the needed change in-focus.  The e-mail will ultimately have the positive effect it needs to become and remain a top-priority because of the rhetorical triangle and the power it has.

            The logos of an argument, as I understand it, is the structure.  The brick and mortar of a house will not stand without a firm foundation supporting it.  The pictures hanging neatly on the wall of that house will fall if not for the brick and mortar.   The roof of the house will collapse if the four walls are not correctly set in-place.  Just like a house, an entire argument will collapse if the structure it has isn’t stable.  For instance, if the claim of the argument has weak grounds then the grounds of the claim will be attacked through rebuttal and the argument will fail.  The warrant of the argument must have backing, or walls.  If the walls are weak or have holes then they will collapse and ultimately fail.  The logos, or structure of an argument, must be solid just like a house.  Each part of the structure depends on another for support.  All of the parts together form the strength and integrity of the structure.

            The pathos of an argument, as I understand it, is the emotional appeal and connection of an argument.  The emotional elements of an argument are, in my opinion, a huge key part of the arguments’ persuasive nature.  I use pathos often in speech to persuade people to do things that may be above their skill set.  Pathos also helps me to apply the same detail to writing that would otherwise be bland and tasteless.  Pathos, simply put, is like the five senses.   The eyes allow us to see the vivid colors.  The ears allow us to hear the sweet music.  The nose allows us to smell the fresh rain.  Touch allows us to feel the soft grass.  The tongue allows us to taste the cool mint.  The senses tie to our feelings and emotions deep-down.  In writing, I can use pathos to clearly connect to the senses with carefully selected words, phrases, images, and narratives.  Pathos clearly ties the argument to the structure and provides understanding that will bring a reader to open up to the claim.

            The ethos of an argument, as I understand it, is the credibility and evidence that supports the claim.  Ethos can, in my opinion, speak volumes about trust.  If I read or see an argument that I feel I cannot trust then that argument, in my mind, fails.  An argument ultimately has to be based on fact in my opinion.  The writer of an argument has to have some level of interest in the argument and be knowledgeable of the issues.  I suppose I can go back to the logos house comparison.  If the foundation of the house is built upon sand, then the foundation will crumble and the house will collapse, no matter how well the foundation, walls, and roof are built.  Ethos is the sand, the evidence, and the research that the entire claim is based upon.  Anyone can argue and anyone can question an argument but the facts and evidence are what separate the two.  The evidence must be selected and placed very carefully to be valid in the mind of the audience.  An argument depends on ethos to carry it through rebuttal.  Without the facts, truth, and evidence an argument will ultimately fail.

            The logos, pathos, and ethos of an argument are keys to success in the ever-more persuasive world.  These elements have to be present and strong to persuade an audience to see a desired view.  The rhetorical triangle is a tool that has a lot of value and function.  This tool is extremely useful in the management and leadership of people and processes.  It can be compared to the elements of a house but, when used correctly, can be far more valuable.             

Reading Summary - Unit Two

          Very quickly in the beginning of the assigned reading of “The Logical Structure of Arguments” chapter it became clear to me the riveting depth and complexity of an argument. I now realize that a lot of thought is put into the logical structure of a good and persuasive argument.  This leaves me to consider the articles that I used in the unit one project and the amount of shear opinion that went into them.  I continued to read about the enthymeme, or as I understand it, the in-mind or supplied belief that a person already must have prior to reading or seeing an argument.  The enthymeme, according to the Toulmin system and Aristotle’s concepts for describing arguments as noted in the fourth chapter, consists of a claim and a supporting reason for the claim.  The supporting reason then must have grounds or, as I understand it, facts, details, and data that back the reason.  The logos map then continues with a warrant or, as I understand it, a belief or principle that the audience has to have.   The warrant then has to have backing or, as I understand it, sub-arguments that support the warrant.  I understand that the strength of an argument is in the enthymeme, the grounds, the warrant, and the backing.  I also understand that a strong chance for rebuttal is present if the argument lacks the strength of logos (Ramage 75-80). 

            Trust is an important factor in everyday life.  We trust our coffee maker to work every morning.  We trust our car to start.  We trust the weather-man to provide us with an accurate forecast.  Well, that is another argument in itself.  A good argument must have evidence to make the reader feel trust in the writer.  Since ethos and evidence go hand-in-hand, I can very easily see where the chapter on evidence fits into the rhetorical triangle.  I am in management.  I have to deal with argument on a minute-to-minute basis.  I find evidence, or the lack thereof, fascinating because many arguments I deal with have little to no supporting facts at all.  Reading this can only help me, as a leader, to build strong arguments in the future.  I also get from reading this that the rhetorical understanding of evidence is key component in the judgment of an argument.  Evidence, as I understand it in the reading, has to be accurate, up-to-date, and sufficient.  I also understand that the source and presentation of evidence matters a lot more that I previously thought.  As an example, I suppose that a blind study of the reaction of 100 people is far less conclusive than the study of the reaction of 10,000 people.  I know this example is crude and simple but this isn’t really something that I questioned before.  I will definitely begin to define, question, and analyze evidence in the future in better detail with the knowledge that I have gained (Ramage 90-103).

            I consider myself to be a visual learner and a visual person however I don’t use much visual representation in writing.  After reading chapter six, I learned that I could have done this and changed the outcome in several different instances.  I know that rhetoric is everywhere in society today.  I know that a good argument must contain emotional aspects for the grounds and warrant to “feel” right.  What I didn’t know was the many different avenues that emotion and pathos can take.  I have never considered metaphors and analogies to tie to any argument that I have made.  I just thought that good writing had metaphors and analogies to hold the attention of the reader.  I will go back to this chapter many times to ensure that the pathos that I attempt to put into my writing contains the concrete language, narratives, and emotional appeal that I feel it needs (Ramage 99-122). 

            After the assigned reading, it is clear to me that I have some adjustments to make to my argument style.  I understand that my writing sometimes lacks structure but that is an area that I feel good about.  I understand structure and envy it in everyday life.  Evidence and the use of ethos is an understood weakness of mine that I will continue to work to improve.  With the internet I can always find evidence for or against any argument but the validity of the evidence will be questionable.  This, again, is a work-in-progress step for me.  Appealing to audiences’ senses is something that I love to do although I am far less untrained at this step than any other.  I find that reading the works of other great writers helps with pathos and effective story-telling in my writing of arguments.  After reading the assigned chapters I feel that I have a much better understand of both the analysis and the writing of a good argument.  I will use this new knowledge of the writing process nearly every day. 

           

           

           

Sources

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean and June Johnson. Writing Arguments:  A Rhetoric with Readings.  8^th Edition.  New York:  Longman, 2010. Print.

Response to Jarvis's "Just One Drink to Numb the Pain"

            I agree that writing can be a chore and sometimes a cause for the support of any company that makes pain medication or adult beverages.  I have to really find a motivation to write but, lucky enough for me, that happens often.  My motivation comes from reading blog posts just like this one or any other that has a post title like "Just One Drink to Numb the Pain".  I love to support those who need a motivation or supportive word.  I too have many struggles with the mechanics of writing and can always see eye-to-eye with anyone who has the same struggles.
           I have never been a good speller or the one in my class who can write with proper punctuation.  I remember a specific moment in the third grade when I lost a spelling bee over the word "capital".  You can bet that I am in awe when the show "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" comes on.  My wife is my rock, the love of my life, and the one who corrects my every use of the word "ain't" or my very southern pronunciation and attempted spelling of "worsch", which is more commonly known as "wash".  I have to believe that auto-correct is about as useful as a push mower on the North Pole and strongly agree that it can misconstrue at best or at worst totally destroy the intended direction of a sentence.  I have to say that I nearly lost my sip of coffee when I read "Just One Drink to Numb the Pain" and the colorful opinions of auto-correct and the specific "most of my papers have a very Christmas feel to them..." line.  I couldn't help but imagine that being a part of the next Apple or Microsoft competition commercials.    
           I was fortunate enough to have parents that would provide any tool available to allow my siblings and I to learn to spell, write, and read well.  The only issue is we, unlike kids today, were very attached to the world outside the window.  We found that dirt is fun, dirty is funner, and dirt covered from head to toe is a competition worthy of the Olympics.  It took the discovery of money and the inherent power that comes with it to learn that writing, reading, and spelling might be of importance someday.  Mom and Dad couldn't spell, write, or read very well.  We constantly heard the same "look it up" that Jarvis heard as a child and young adult. 
          This class and the ones to follow it will do very well in bringing-to-light the need to read and write often, if for no other reason than to pass it to a generation that will definitely need it.  I cannot imagine what the future will hold for children but by reading Jarvis's blog post "Just One Drink to Numb the Pain" and writing this response it solidifies the importance of writing often, reading, and passing on the knowledge to anyone who may need it.