Persuasion and Argument - Salughterhouse Five

8/2/2019 Persuasion and Argument - Salughterhouse Five

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Persuasion and ArgumentEntering the Argument


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The Childrens Crusade

"The nicest veterans in Schenectady, I thought, the kindest and funniest ones, the

ones who hated war the most, were the ones who'd really fought." (Chapter 1).

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to

change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference. Among the

things Billy Pilgrim could not change were the past, the present, and the future."

(Chapter 3). "I am a Tralfamadorian, seeing all time as you might see a stretch of the Rocky

Mountains. All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to

warnings or explanations. It simply is." (Chapter 4).

"So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe... Science

fiction was a big help." (Chapter 4).

If I hadnt spent so much time studying Earthlings, said the Tralfamadorian, I

wouldnt have any idea what was meant by free will. Ive visited thirty-one

inhabited planets in the universe, and I have studied reports on one hundred

more. Only on Earth is there any talk of free will . (Chapter 4).


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If I hadnt spent so much time studying Earthlings, said the

Tralfamadorian, I wouldnt have any idea what was meant by free will.

Ive visited thirty-one inhabited planets in the universe, and I have studied

reports on one hundred more. Only on Earth is there any talk of free will .

(Chapter 4).

"If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will

all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem to be, I am

not overjoyed. Still--if I am going to spend eternity visiting this moment

and that, I'm grateful that so many of those moments are nice." (Chapter

10).

Poo-tee-weet? (Chapter 10).


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Monday, March 5

1. Read Harold Blooms Kurt Vonnegut's

Slaughterhouse-Five. New ed. New York: Bloom'sLiterary Criticism, 2009.

2. Be sure to read the introductory information tolearn a little about the author.

3. Write two thesis statements in response to the

chosen prompt (one for, one against will be givento you as a handout).

4. Last but not least, go find your support!1. Notice the prompt asks for three sources. This means you

need one more per thesis statement (thats two total): onedefending, and one challenging.1. You may prepare a note card with your favorite points if you prefer

not to print out article.

5. And that Burning Question: you must have yourthesis statements and access to your support whenyou come to class Wed/Thurs.


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Purpose

Argument (classically defined as an attempt to persuade,not as an attempt to win a dispute) is usually aimed at oneof several outcomes:

Those who argue are usually attempting to persuadepeople To support a cause or make a commitment

To take action

To change a situation

To change behavior or attitudes

To refute or introduce a theory

To arouse sympathy

To stimulate concern To win agreement

To provoke anger

Sometimes, several of these purposes are incorporatedinto on piece of writing.


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Audience

Most readers will fit into one of the followingclasses:

1. Readers who already agree with the writers ideas andare reading mainly for reinforcement orencouragement.

2. Readers who are interested in and inclined to agreewith the issue the writer is discussing but want toknow more.

3. Readers who are neutral on an issue and wantexplanations and arguments based on evidence and

logical reasoning before they make up their mind.4. Readers who are skeptical about an issue and will not

take a stand until they hear both sides of an argumentexplained in complete detail


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Strategies: Evidence

Must be Pertinent, Verifiable, andReliable

Three types of useful evidence: Facts: valuable tool, cannot be disputed (the

stock market crashed 10/29/29)

Judgments: conclusions inferred from facts (adoctors diagnosis based on symptoms); lendcredibility to an argument because they arethe result of careful reasoning

Testimony: affirms or asserts facts; providesauthenticity (eyewitness testimony), butmust be used carefully- do not allow it to bedistorted by opinion or to draw parallels tounrelated events

Note that Opinion is NOT considereduseful


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Arranging Evidence:

Logical Reasoning Induction- (scientific method) presents specific

evidence, then moves to general conclusion

Example:

Question: Why is our company losing so many dataprocessors to other companies?

1. Most data processors are women who have preschoolchildren. (Fact)

2. A nearby day-care center has closed because it lost federalfunding. (Fact)

3. Other day-care centers in the area are inconvenient and

understaffed. (Testimony)4. Other companies provide on-site day care for children of

employees. (Fact)

5. On-site day care is beneficial to the emotional well-beingof bother children and their mothers. (Judgment)

Conclusion: Therefore, our company needs to provide on-site day care to retain valuable employees.


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Arranging Evidence:

Logical Reasoning

Deduction- (classical reasoning) beginswith a general statement, and byrestricting it is lead to a conclusion

Syllogism: if A and B, then C

Example:

Major Premise: Retention of data processorswho have preschool children is promotedby on-site day care.

Minor premise: Our company wants to retaindata processors who have preschoolchildren.

Conclusion: Our company should establish

on-site day-care centers.


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Arranging Evidence:

Claims and Warrants

Present claims (general

assertions) first, then provide

evidence to support the claim

the statement that links the claim to

the evidence is called a warrant.

Support: strengthens argument

Qualifiers: modify or limit a claim

Reservations: point out instances to

which a claim may not apply


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Claim: Retention of data processors who have preschoolchildren is promoted by on-site day-care centers.

Evidence: Many of our data processors have pre-k children

These employees have difficulties arranging and paying for day-care services.

Mothers are more effective employees when they dont have toworry about their children.

Warrant: Our company should establish on-site day-carecenters.

Support: Competitors who provide on-site day care have a high retention

rate. Data processors at such companies have a lower absentee rate.

The cost of training new data processors is expensive.

Qualification: Some of our data processors do not havepreschool children.

Reservation: Because our company wants to retain a qualified

work force, we dont want to add expenses to the workplacethat will penalize data processors who do not have children.

Arranging Evidence:

Claims and Warrants


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Arranging Evidence:

Accommodation Takes your audiences hesitation into account and makes sure all

parties interests have been acknowledged.

Example: Objective statement of problem: Women data processors who have

preschool children are leaving the company.

Contending positions (complete and accurate)

Corporation board: need a qualified work force, but we are not inbusiness to provide social services

Fellow Workers: We understand their problem, but providing an on-siteday care is giving expensive, preferential treatment to a small segmentof the work force.

Competitors: We need better data processors if we are going tocompete, and we will provide what is necessary to hire them.

Where parties agree: The corporation should not be in the day-carebusiness; women data processors have the right to market theirskills in a competitive market.

Present your argument explaining difference from other positions:We have invested a large amount of money in training our workforce; childcare is an appropriate investment in view of the long-term contribution these people can make to the corporation.

Present a proposal that might resolve the issue in a fair way: Thecorporation might help fund the nearby day-care that was previously

supported by government money.


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Strategies:

Monitoring the Appeals

Use the three appeals with PURPOSE andRESTRAINT

Emotional Appeals (pathos): connect theaudience, emotionally, to the topic;

should never replace a rational appeal,but can help amplify it

Ethical Appeal (ethos): suggests that theauthor can be trusted, usually through

demonstrating competence as anauthority on the subject matter

Logical Appeal (logos): rational discussionof how the facts add up to yourconclusion; forceful use of logic does not

make an argument true


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Points to Remember

Know your audience and your purpose.

Understand the three kinds of persuasive appeals. The mostpersuasive writers combine elements from all three appeals.

Construct your argument as a lawyer would a case: state your

claim, and back it up with evidence and reason, but, whenappropriate, use metaphor and connotation.

Always assume your audience is intelligent, if perhapsuninformed about certain details. Be respectful.

Argue responsibly: Dont overstate your claim

Dont oversimplify complex issues

Support your claims with specific details and evidence


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Tonight

Take your two articles (which youshould have printed out) aboutSlaughterhouse Five/ The

Firebombing of Dresden, andanalyze them:

What kind of reasoning is beingused?

What kind of evidence do they use?Is it effective?

What appeals does the authoremploy? Why?


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Thursday/Friday

March 8/9

In-class Discussion: The Merits of

Slaughterhouse Five

Get out your articles, questions,

and thesis statements.


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Socratic Seminar

Inner Circle:

Engage in discussion, activelyparticipate.

Read aloud excerpts from the text tosupport or make a point.

Listen carefully

Make eye contact with the speaker

Use each others names

Do not interrupt

Paraphrase what the speaker hassaid before you speak. Support or

refute the speakers ideas. Stick to the text, your point only

matters if you can back it up!

If you need clarification, ask for it!

Attack IDEAS, not People.

Outer Circle:

SILENT but taking notes

When did the conversation spark?How?

Track the person directly in front ofyou. Did he/she contribute well?Explain.

What was the single most importantidea that was discussed? Why?

What was the single most importantidea that was not discussed? Why?

To what idea were you dying torespond? What would you have said?

What could have made the discussioneven more constructive?


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Weekend Essay:

HW: Read answer one of the

prompts (next slide) for

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt

Vonnegut jr.

Due when you come in Monday,

March 19.


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Prompt #1

In many literary works, primary characters face

suffering and loss. Such losses and pains often pave

the road toward a life of experience and

enlightenment. Choose a section ofSlaughterhouseFive and write an organized essay in which you

identify the suffering of a character and its purpose,

and describe how the author develops this aspect of

the work.


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Prompt #2

In most works of literature, characters in the cause of the

conflict come across many forms of love and connection.

Whether a deep relationship between two people, or a

sincere love and appreciation for others-- many characters

could claim to have found "true love" in one form or another.Choose two characters from Slaughterhouse Five that exhibits

a relationship of love and discuss if what they have in your

opinion is "true love," what that looks like, and how it

influences both of their lives.


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Prompt #3

In not only works of literature, but in real life, we are faced

with numerous choices everyday. These choices, and the

decisions made regarding them, may at times seem small and

insignificant, but have the capability to change your life in

unsuspected and often irreversible ways. In SlaughterhouseFive, discuss how the author demonstrates the vital role

everyday actions and decisions play in shaping one's life,

whether it be for better or worse. Then, describe the author's

purpose in presenting each event, and the path the characterchooses to take regarding them.


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Prompt #4

Many people formulate their own theories of a fate/destiny,

or a lack thereof. These theories are often the basis for which

people find meaning in their lives, and consequently affect

their day-to-day behavior. Discuss the theory of fate as seen in

Slaughterhouse Five, and write an essay in which you identifythis theory and how it affects the behavior of a character in

the work.

Documents

Persuasion and Argument - Salughterhouse Five