Wednesday, November 14, Virginia Convention speech review

Due today: well-written responses to Virginia Convention speech
Due Thursday: Gout vocabulary test
In class: discussion and analysis of the Virginia Convention speech
Assignment due Tuesday, November 20. Think about a topic that you personally find important. This may be social, economic, political or environmental. You are to write a paper of no fewer than 500 words in which you make an argument to bring people around to your way of thinking. You are to employ all three rhetorical devices. In case you are struggling for a topic, I have listed a 100 suggestions below. At the end of this blog, I have broken down the essentials you need to know to write an affective persuasive or argumentative essay. Please review, before beginning your paper. As always, if you write a careful outline, the paper will build itself.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvJrSdr34co

Below is review material for logos, ethos, pathos. This is the lens through which we will look at the speech.
Logos, Ethos and Pathos
Whenever you read an argument you must ask yourself, "is this persuasive? And if so, to whom?" There are several ways to appeal to an audience. Among them are appealing to logos, ethos and pathos. These appeals are prevalent in almost all arguments.
Definitions
Logos: The Greek word logos is the basis for the English word logic. Logos is a broader idea than formal logic--the highly symbolic and mathematical logic that you might study in a philosophy course. Logos refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect, the general meaning of "logical argument." Everyday arguments rely heavily on ethos and pathos, but academic arguments rely more on logos. Yes, these arguments will call upon the writers' credibility and try to touch the audience's emotions, but there will more often than not be logical chains of reasoning supporting all claims.
Ethos: Ethos is related to the English word ethics and refers to the trustworthiness of the speaker/writer. Ethos is an effective persuasive strategy because when we believe that the speaker does not intend to do us harm, we are more willing to listen to what s/he has to say. For example, when a trusted doctor gives you advice, you may not understand all of the medical reasoning behind the advice, but you nonetheless follow the directions because you believe that the doctor knows what s/he is talking about. Likewise, when a judge comments on legal precedent audiences tend to listen because it is the job of a judge to know the nature of past legal cases.
Pathos: Pathos is related to the words pathetic, sympathy and empathy. Whenever you accept an claim based on how it makes you feel without fully analyzing the rationale behind the claim, you are acting on pathos. They may be any emotions: love, fear, patriotism, guilt, hate or joy. A majority of arguments in the popular press are heavily dependent on pathetic appeals. The more people react without full consideration for the WHY, the more effective an argument can be. Although the pathetic appeal can be manipulative, it is the cornerstone of moving people to action. Many arguments are able to persuade people logically, but the apathetic audience may not follow through on the call to action. Appeals to pathos touch a nerve and compel people to not only listen, but to also take the next step and act in the world.

IF YOU NEED AN IDEA

1. Should students be allowed to have cell phones in elementary and high schools?
2. Should students have to wear uniforms?
3. Should college athletes be paid for playing?
4. Should the elderly receive free bus rides?
5. Should state colleges be free to attend?
6. Should all American citizens have to complete a year of community service?
7. Should students be required to take Spanish classes?
8. Should marijuana be legal for medicinal purposes?
9. Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
10. Should the driving age be raised to twenty-one?
11. Should students be paid for having good grades?
12. Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers licenses?
13. Should not wearing a seat-belt be illegal?
14. Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers?
15. Should students have to pass a basic skills test to graduate high school?
16. Should schools raise money by selling candy and sugary soft drinks to students?
17. Should schools serve french-fries and fried potato products to students at lunch?
18. Should students’ grades in gym affect their grade point averages?
19. Should girls be allowed to play on boys sports teams?
20. Should teens be able to buy violent video games?
21. Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
22. Should teenage girls be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?
23. Should our country have a universal health care program?
24. Should immigration laws be reformed?
25. Should the federal government recognize civil unions?
26. Should people who download music and movies illegally be punished?
27. Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?
28. Should music with curse words be allowed at school dances?
29. Should public schools begin the day with a silent prayer time?
30. Should students be able to listen to MP3 players on headphones during study hall?
31. Should schools offer fast food options like McDonald’s or Taco Bell?
32. Should smoking be allowed at parks and other outdoor public venues?
33. Should cities offer free public Wi-Fi?
34. Should the government place a tax on junk food and fatty snacks?
35. Should the 2^nd amendment give citizens the right to own assault weaponry?
36. Should people traveling in airplanes have to undergo intensive security screenings?
37. Should restaurants be allowed to sell genetically modified chickens under the name “chicken”?
38. Should teachers have to pass a basic skills test every ten years to renew their certification?
39. Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals like chimpanzees or tigers?
40. Should people be allowed to keep pit-bull dogs?
41. Should the city offer a bike sharing program?
42. Should there be an ordinance citing people who fail to recycle $50?
43. Should there be an ordinance citing people who play music too loudly $50?
44. Should prostitution be legalized and regulated by the government?
45. Should celebrities who break the law face stricter penalties?
46. Should the government increase spending on the space program?
47. Should larger passengers have to pay for two plane or movie theater tickets?
48. Should children have to use booster seats in cars?
49. Should people have to get a license to become parents?
50. Should there be tougher federal restrictions for content on the internet?
51. Should people be allowed to curse on daytime television?
52. Should owners be legally accountable for clearing snow from sidewalks on their property?
53. Should sexual education be taught in public schools?
54. Should students be able to get free condoms at school?
55. Should students who commit cyber-bullying be suspended from school?
56. Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
57. Should students be allowed to eat during class?
58. Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?
59. Is it appropriate for students and teachers to be friends on Facebook?
60. Should students have open campus lunch periods?
61. Should abortions be legal?
62. Should abortions be legal in cases of rape and incest?
63. Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
64. Should students learn about world religions in public schools?
65. Should schools start later in the morning?
66. Should the USA end overseas military operations?
67. Should politicians be allowed to accept campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists?
68. Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to doctor assisted suicides?
69. Should Puerto Rico become a state?
70. Should stem cell researchers be able to use stem cells from aborted babies to cure diseases?
71. Should school athletes have to take drug tests?
72. Should professional athletes have to take drug tests?
73. Should America convert to the metric system?
74. Should high school students have to complete community service hours to graduate?
75. Should teens over 13 years be allowed into R rated movies?
76. Should state tests be given in other languages for ESL students?
77. Should scientists be allowed to test products intended for human use on animals?
78. Should unhealthy fast food products be sold with a warning label?
79. Should there be a tariff or tax on products manufactured outside of the country?
80. Should students or teachers receive money for scoring well on standardized tests?
81. Should everyone under the age of 17 have a 9:00 PM curfew?
82. Should schools with low scores on standardized tests be closed?
83. Should minors be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in their homes with their parents’ consent?
84. Should students be allowed to drop out before they turn 18 years old?
85. Should alcohol manufacturers be allowed to advertise on television?
86. Should students as young as fourteen be allowed to hold jobs?
87. Should American families have a two child max rule to limit population growth?
88. Should children younger than thirteen be allowed to watch MTV or music videos?
89. Should people who are caught driving drunk lose their licenses for a year?
90. Should students who fail their classes be retained and have to repeat the grade?
91. Should large businesses and corporations be required to employ a number of minorities proportionate to the population?
92. Should female construction workers earn the same wages as males?
93. Should children in temporary living situations with a 3.0 GPA earn free college tuition?
94. Should gambling and sports betting be illegal or should the government regulate it?
95. Should children who commit violent crimes be tried as adults?
96. Should the government be allowed to detain suspected terrorists without trial?
97. Should the government censor internet content deemed inappropriate?
98. Should teachers have to wear uniforms or have a dress code?
99. Should teachers be allowed to have cell phones in the classroom?
100. Should the state execute dogs that have bitten someone?
101. Should talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving be illegal?

What is an Argumentative  or persuasive essay?

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires you to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for research and must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.
The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following:
1) A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
In the first paragraph of an argument essay, you should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next you should explain why the topic is important (exigence) or why the reader should care about the issue. Lastly, you should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement have a narrow focus. You are not writing a book.
2)Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Check out that transition handout I gave you for the last writing assignment. Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
 How can you do this? Get some statics, note some reseach or an anecdote. Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.  It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis.
However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Dedicate one paragraph of an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, note how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.
3)A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
This is where folks are struggling. Remember that this is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work. DO NOT REPEAT THE INTRODUCTION!

 

The Five-Paragraph Essay

A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of 1) an introductory paragraph 2) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and 3) a conclusion.