How to Determine a Position of an Argument - Essay Example

Evaluation Argument To determine a position of an argument, the of the book suggests that there is aneed to develop the argument itself. Just presenting an argument does not ensure that one’s arguments will hold. Development of an argument ensures that people build their cases in a systematic manner and in a way that can be communicated to the audience. To successfully build an argument, the author identifies three main factors; establishment of the facts; obtaining statistics that corroborate those facts; and most importantly, those facts must be empirical. When these facts are established objectively, and presented in a logical and rational manner, then it is assumed that the arguments presented by the author would be appealing to the audience. This is the only way that the writer of an argument can claim authority of their argument. The author outlines several things that are believed to lay ground for an evaluative argument. First and foremost, the argument should be able to identify the weaknesses and strengths that exist in the position taken. Identification of the weaknesses and the strength gives room for the writer to pick on the key most important aspects of the weaknesses and the strengths. This should then be followed by the identification of the techniques required for the purposes of developing content ideas like association, journalistic questioning as well as clustering. This is the list that the author believes needs to be developed so that the argument could be complete. According to the author, the ultimate success would only be achieved if the writer focuses their thoughts on how to come up with ideas that support the point they have identified. These supporting ideas should posses details, reasons, examples as well as evidence. Further examination of the weaknesses and the strengths is needed at this stage to ensure that only those weaknesses and the strengths that matter and are highly relevant in supporting the arguments are given preferences. The author reiterates that at this stage, evaluation needs to be heightened to ensure that any detail is preserve so that they may be used for future references. Rebuttal argument Presentation of a fair and convincing message requires serious anticipation and detailed research that would enable one to be outline some position in argument that would try to contradict your thesis. It is during one’s presentation that may require them to support their position by rebutting the opposing position. Developing a rebuttal argument requires that one develop a clear section of his argument specifically for the purposes of rebutting. According to the author, it was clear that those individuals who are in one side of the argument as opposed to your side of argument need not to obtain a lot of information that support your argument. It is difficult to expect that people who do not share alignment with your thoughts would at some point agree with your position at all. This may be because of many reasons such as ethical reasons, or even religious reasons. So this makes it pointless to create emphasis on support of your argument to such as audience. According to the author, it is therefore important for an argument to be focused on those individuals who have not decided yet on which side of the argument they want to align with. These are the people who may also be known as the fence sitters. One of the reasons why the fence sitter always exist among the audience is usually because they have not made a choice since they see value in both the position. It is therefore important that one’s argument should put into consideration that the fence sitter sitters do not just want to hear about your supporting position, rather, they also need to hear about the opposing position which they also associate with. In case such considerations are not made, then the fence sitters may be delineated from the argument. The author explains in details what is needed for a writer to develop a rebuttal argument. When a writer is interested in developing a rebuttal argument, it is important that they observe three part organization as follows: it is important that one understand the argument fronted by the opponent. It is not strategic for the writer to assume that the reader and the audience have the mastery of the argument fronted by the opponent. It follows that a strategic writer needs to highlight clearly in the first paragraph they are writing, the position of the argument being rebutted. The second phase of the development of the rebuttal argument is the position that the writer has taken. It is important that the writer makes it clear, the nature of the argument that they are refuting. Example of apposition that the writer might enjoy could be grounded on the claim that the opposing argument relies on outdated references or that the opponents position if fallacious. This is the point where the writer needs to conduct a good research that will help them get evidences against the position of the opponent. The final phase that the author has clearly indicated to be important in the process of developing a rebuttal argument is about the refutation itself. It is this point where the nature of one’s argument will be of much significance. The nature of one’s argument will determine the specifics that they hold against the position to be refuted. In the case where a writer has challenged another writers evidence, the most fair position will be to produce another evidence that in more recent and can prove to be more valid for the sake of the argument. In the cases where the writers challenge assumptions, then they would need to explain and justify why such assumption could not be relied on. When the position the writer hold against the other is grounded on the fact that the opponent’s position is fallacious, then it is incumbent upon one to explain the fallacies that they have identified. The arguments that have been presented by the author are quite vital in answering the questions that have been raised. Based on some of the sample rebuttal arguments that have been presented, it is clearer that rebuttal argument puts the writer in a double-task position of anticipating the opponent’s positions and seeking to correct their position while at the same time, working towards ensuring that you develop a good position which also has a strong defense against the opponent. Rebuttal argument is a more accommodative argument that ensures that those who believe in both the writer’s position and those who do not are given a fair opportunity to listen and to make informed choice. Work cited Faigley, Lester, and Jack Selzer. Good reasons : Designing and Writing effective arguments. 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 2004. Print. Read More