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The Effective Reader
(Updated Edition)
by D. J. Henry
Chapter 10:
The Basics of Argument
PowerPoint Presentation
by Gretchen Starks-Martin
St Cloud State University, MN
2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman
Publishers
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2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman
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Argument
An argument is made up of two types of
statements:
Authors claim: the main point of theargument
The supports: the evidence or reasons that
support the authors claim.
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Step 1: Identify the Authors
Claim and Supports.Gladiatoris a movie worth seeing.
It was nominated for 12 Oscars and won 5.
It is a story about love, courage, andheroism.
It is full of non-stop action.
These three statements
support the authors claim.
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Step 1: Identify the Authors
Claim and Supports.Working long hours on the computer should
be
avoided. (claim)
While working on the computer our eyes dont blink
as often, and they dry out, causing eyestrain.
(support)
Extended computer sessions may cause blurred
vision and sensitivity to light. (support)
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Step 2: Decide Whether the
Supports are Relevant.Online shopping offers a lot of
benefits.
You can shop anytime.
You dont have to leave home.
You cant try clothes on to see if they fit.
You have to pay postage for returned
items.
Which items are
relevant?
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Step 2: Decide Whether the
Supports are Relevant.Online shopping offers a lot of
benefits.
R You can shop anytime.
RYou dont have to leave home. N-RYou cant try clothes on to see
if they fit.
N-R You have to pay postage for returned items.
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7/28/2019 Chap 12 Argument
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Step 3: Decide Whether the
Supports Are Adequate.Not enough support:
A vegetarian diet is a more healthful diet. I
feel much better since I became avegetarian.
The support is inadequate. It should
include expert opinions and facts, notjust personal opinion.
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Example of support:
Muscles burn more calories than fat.
One pound of muscle burns 50 calories a
day. One pound of fat burns 2 calories a day.
Two pounds of muscle can burn up 10
pounds of fat in one year.
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The Logic of Argument
Most textbooks rely on research by experts, and
these experts may have differing views on the same
topic.
Textbook arguments are usually well developed with
supports that are relevant and adequate: studies,
surveys, expert opinions, experiments, theories,
examples, or reasons.
Textbooks may also offer graphs, charts, and photosas
supports.
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Practice
Complete the following:
Chapter Review
Applications
Review Tests
Mastery Tests
Remember to complete your scorecard for
the Review Tests in this chapter.
