CHAPTER 1: INTRO TO ARGUMENTATION

Communication

The process by which verbal and nonverbal messages are used to create and share meaning

(HCM) Channel

The means in which the message is moved

(HCM) Message

the information, idea, thought, or feeling being communicated

(HCM) Feedback

the receiver’s response to the message, which lets the speaker know how the message was interpreted

(HCM) Speaker

the person who creates and sends the message.

(HCM) Receiver

the person who receives and interprets the message.

(HCM) Feedback

the receiver’s response to the message, which lets the speaker know how the message was interpreted.

(HCM) Noise

anything that interferes with the message being sent or understood correctly. Noise doesn't have to literally be sound.

(HCM) Context

the situation or environment in which communication happens. It can affect how a message is understood.

Argumentation

A form of instrumental communication. It relies on ethos, pathos, and logos.

Persuasion

An attempt to move an audience to accept or identify w/ a particular POV

Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM)

How we process persuasive messaging:

• Central Processing: Reasoning and logic

  • Only possible when people WANT to and are ABLE to reason and understand

• Peripheral Processing: simple cues or shortcuts instead of carefully thinking about the argument and evidence.

What to keep in mind when making an argument

• Demographics: age, gender, race, etc.

• Psychographics: attitude, common bonds, emotion

• You must adapt to the audience

The Sophists

• Taught normal citizens how to public speak

• Traveling teachers in Athens

• Disliked by great philosophers

Protagoras

• A sophist

• Known as the father of debate

• He denied objective reality → NO “THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY”

Anti-Logic

• Look at the grey area

• Resolve debate by examining both sides of the argument

Aristotle

• Plato’s student who initially agreed w/ his ideas

• Eventually broke off and began to study the art of rhetoric later on

• Pragmatic (not fixed) and scientific

(3 Theoretical Perspectives) Rhetoric

• How we use communication to influence others

  • Relates to context and focuses on audience

• Purpose: persuasion

• Perspective

  • Who is the audience? What are the circumstances for the argument? What is the arguer’s intent? How does this appeal to the reader?

(3 Theoretical Perspectives) Dialectic

• discussion and back-and-forth questioning to examine different sides of an issue and reach a better understanding.

• In forms of questions until you find the answer

• Participants are EQUAL → Must have respect for others

• Perspective

  • Have all isues been examened? What is the best conclusion?

(3 Theoretical Perspectives) Logic

• Context + Proof

• Purpose: judging an argument based on whether it uses good reasoning and strong evidence.

• DOESN”T CONSIDER CONTEXT

Formal logic

• Turn ideas into math symbols, a=b=c so a=c

• Absolute truth

• using strict rules and structures to determine whether an argument is logically valid.

Informal logic

• Using reasoning and evidence in everyday arguments to decide whether a conclusion makes sense.

• Doesn’t neccessarily lead to conclusions

Ethics

The moral choices a person makes regarding his/her morals.

Teleological ethics

Judging whether an action is right or wrong based on its consequences or results.

Deontological Ethics

Judging whether an action is right or wrong based on rules, duties, or moral principles, regardless of the outcome.

4 Guidelines for Ethical Argumentation

• Clarity: explain to the audience

• Honesty: say the truth

• Efficiency: be efficient but don’t take short cuts

• Relevance: connect to the audience

Discourse ethics

• The idea that ethical decisions should be made through fair and open discussion between everyone affected.

• Not about WINNING or LOSING

• Guidelines:

  • Audience/Opponents aren’t objects or things

  • Never silence your oponent

  • Trace your argument

Invitational Rhetoric

• Communicating by inviting others to understand your point of view rather than trying to persuade or change them.

• Influenced by FEMINISM thought

• Guidelines:

  • Equality/safety

  • Everyone is =

  • Freedom