Explores how we justify our beliefs - and try to influence those of others - both soundly and effectively.

The study of argumentation has primarily focused on logical and dialectical approaches, with minimal attention given to the rhetorical facets of argument. Rhetorical Argumentation: Principles of Theory and Practice approaches argumentation from a rhetorical point of view and demonstrates how logical and dialectical considerations depend on the rhetorical features of the argumentative situation. Throughout this text, author Christopher W. Tindale identifies how argumentation as a communicative practice can best be understood by its rhetorical features. Rhetorical Argumentation uniquely presents argumentation through the idea of an invitational rhetoric by encouraging readers to think about the ways in which they encounter arguments. The book explores the processes involved in the argumentative exchanges between arguers and audiences-thus, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the arguer-audience relationship in the argumentative situation. That is, argument is presented not as a set of ideas imposed upon a passive audience, but rather as a dynamic exchange wherein the audience is involved in self-persuasion. Key Features: Explores the ancient foundations of rhetoric, from Aristotle to the relatively contemporary works of Perelman and Olbrechts-Tytecta, Toulmin, and Bakhtin Includes numerous examples illustrating the ways in which the reasoning within arguments involves the audience from premise through to conclusion Presents the idea of "dialogism" drawn from the theories of Mikhail Bakhtin to create a more dynamic and interactive sense of the argumentative context Examines current theory as well as the historical relationship between argument and rhetoric Provides detailed discussions of topics such as nature of the dialogical, rhetorical context, audiences, and standards of appraisal. Rhetorical Argumentation is designed to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a clear understanding of the rhetorical view of argumentation and how it can be effective in contemporary society. The book is an ideal text for courses in Communication, Rhetoric, Argumentation, Informal Logic, Critical Thinking, and Conflict Resolution.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... been called to give testimony must be consistent. Any inconsistency may prove fatal to the acceptance of his testimony. In like manner any inconsistency in an argument may prove fatal to its acceptance. The exposure of such inconsistencies in an opponent's argument is one of the most important methods of refutation. In most cases the difficulty of the task is greatly increased by the form in which such inconsistencies usually occur. Seldom are they apparent. In most cases the error is revealed only after the argument has been carefully analyzed and the inconsistent parts stripped of their covering of confusing language. The following quotation taken from the argument of Lincoln in one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates shows the application of this method. Douglas had maintained that slavery could be lawfully excluded from a territory in spite of the Dred Scott decision. In refuting this argument by exposing the inconsistency which it contained, Lincoln said: -- "The Dred Scott Decision expressly gives every citizen of the United States a right to carry his slaves into the United States Territories. Now, there was some inconsistency in saying that the decision was right, and saying, too, that the people of the Territory could lawfully drive slavery out again. When all the trash, the words, the collateral matter, was cleared away from it, --all the chaff was fanned out of it, -- it was a bare absurdity: no less than that a thing may be lawfully driven away from a place where it has a lawful right to be. Clear it of all the verbiage, and that is the naked truth for his proposition--that a thing may be lawfully driven from the place where it has a lawful right to stay." VI. Adopting an opponent's evidence. This method of refutation consists in...

Is critical argumentation an effective way to overcome disagreement? And does the exchange of arguments bring opponents in a controversy closer to the truth? This study provides a new perspective on these pivotal questions. By means of multi-agent simulations, it investigates the truth and consensus-conduciveness of controversial debates. The book brings together research in formal epistemology and argumentation theory. Aside from its consequences for discursive practice, the work may have important implications for philosophy of science and the way we construe scientific rationality as well.

Developed for introductory courses in argumentation and advocacy, Argumentation and Critical Thought: An Introduction to Advocacy, Reasoning, and Debateintroduces students to argumentation as a theory and as a practice. It clearly explains key concepts of argumentation and places it within the context of the larger field of communication studies. The emphasis is on critical theory and rhetoric as ways to ground the practical elements of formal debate. This encompasses ethos, pathos, logos, critical theory, notions of subjectivity, and social change, all of which are addressed in the text. The text also addresses the canons of rhetoric, the Toulmin diagram, logic and reason, and competitive debate and strategic research. Each chapter includes targeted learning activities to support self-assessment, and enhance comprehension and retention. Argumentation and Critical Thought: An Introduction to Advocacy, Reasoning, and Debate makes its subject matter both accessible and challenging. The textbook's blend of theory and practice, fundamentals, and critical thinking, as well as its exploration of all the intricacies of argumentation and advocacy, make it an ideal teaching and learning tool for any undergraduate course in debate or critical thinking. Kevin Kuswa holds a Ph.D. in communication studies and rhetoric from the University of Texas, Austin. He has been involved in nationwide debate pedagogy and coaching for over twenty years. He won the national debate tournament for Georgetown University, coached the national championship team for Dartmouth College, and is currently the head coach at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida. Cameron Sublett is an assistant professor at Santa Barbara City College, where he also serves as the director of Argumentation and Debate and Public Address. His research and writing focuses on education policy and leadership as well as political communication.

This book presents the historical, theoretical and empirical foundations of educational practices involving dialogue and argumentation.

In the second edition of this witty and infectious book, Madsen Pirie builds upon his guide to using - and indeed abusing - logic in order to win arguments. By including new chapters on how to win arguments in writing, in the pub, with a friend, on Facebook and in 140 characters (on Twitter), Pirie provides the complete guide to triumphing in altercations ranging from the everyday to the downright serious. He identifies with devastating examples all the most common fallacies popularly used in argument. We all like to think of ourselves as clear-headed and logical - but all readers will find in this book fallacies of which they themselves are guilty. The author shows you how to simultaneously strengthen your own thinking and identify the weaknesses in other people arguments. And, more mischievously, Pirie also shows how to be deliberately illogical - and get away with it. This book will make you maddeningly smart: your family, friends and opponents will all wish that you had never read it. Publisher's warning: In the wrong hands this book is dangerous. We recommend that you arm yourself with it whilst keeping out of the hands of others. Only buy this book as a gift if you are sure that you can trust the recipient.

Arguing is a fundamental human activity; it is a process of making sense of the world and negotiating understandings with others. Arguing can be—and often is—healthy for both relationships and societies. The values of the community are shaped through people sharing their opinions, offering reasons in support of their beliefs, and deliberating. Hollihan and Baaske present techniques for effective analysis, logical reasoning, and socially constructive argumentation. They illustrate their discussions of theory and practice with multiple engaging examples. The book focuses on narrative—argument as a story backed by evidence to evaluate courses of action or to resolve conflicts. A chapter on visual argumentation highlights the power of visual elements in arguments. Effective arguing requires a sensitivity to the demands of different argumentative contexts. Readers will become familiar with the elements of argument essential for politics, the law, debate, business, and relationships. Narrative arguments are rational arguments. Learning about the narrative reasoning process helps us tell more convincing, credible, and compassionate stories—and to become better critics of the stories we hear.

Argumentation—arriving at conclusions on a topic through a process of logical reasoning that includes debate and persuasion— has in recent years emerged as a central topic of discussion among science educators and researchers. There is now a firm and general belief that fostering argumentation in learning activities can develop students’ critical thinking and reasoning skills, and that dialogic and collaborative inquiries are key precursors to an engagement in scientific argumentation. It is also reckoned that argumentation helps students assimilate knowledge and generate complex meaning. The consensus among educators is that involving students in scientific argumentation must play a critical role in the education process itself. Recent analysis of research trends in science education indicates that argumentation is now the most prevalent research topic in the literature. This book attempts to consolidate contemporary thinking and research on the role of scientific argumentation in education. Perspectives on Scientific Argumentation brings together prominent scholars in the field to share the sum of their knowledge about the place of scientific argumentation in teaching and learning. Chapters explore scientific argumentation as a means of addressing and solving problems in conceptual change, reasoning, knowledge-building and the promotion of scientific literacy. Others interrogate topics such as the importance of language, discursive practice, social interactions and culture in the classroom. The material in this book, which features intervention studies, discourse analyses, classroom-based experiments, anthropological observations, and design-based research, will inform theoretical frameworks and changing pedagogical practices as well as encourage new avenues of research.