Structuring Arguments
Everything’s an Argument Eight Edition
Authors: Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz
In this book, “Everything’s an Argument” Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz, present different structuring arguments, which are Rogerian and Invitational Arguments, and Toulmin Argument. In Rogerian argument, the authors show how Rogers argued that people involved in disputes should not respond to each other. Rogers argues that in this argument the key is the willingness of the parties in a dispute to think about opposing positions about their conflict and describe them fairly. Therefore, the parties in the conflict should acknowledge alternatives of the claims in hand to exist and reasonable under certain circumstances among the parties.
In invitation argument, the authors argue that the argument has not won over the opponent, instead, the argument aims at getting groups ad people together and identify the claims with each other. The invitation argument is important in solving arguments in society, which depend on successful collaboration to get things done. Hence, invitation aims at finding a common ground between sides opposing each other in an argument, while Rogerian places an emphasis on both sides winning, other than just being persuasive.
In Toulmin argument, the authors explain that according to Toulmin, the claims should meet specific conditions. The argument is broken down into six main sections. The six sections are the claim, which is the assertion that is wished to be proved, evidence which supports the claim, Warrant that interlinks the claim and evidence, and why the evidence supports the claim given.
In Toulmin argument claims should be clear, the claims should be supported with evidence and reasons, the reasons and claims should be based on the assumptions that the audiences are likely to accept. Moreover, according to Toulmin argument, effective argument respects the anticipation objectives, which the readers will offer. The book is an important source in understanding, structuring arguments.
