Assignment 1
My personal communication style is passionate but becoming more balanced. Presenting arguments in a calm and logical manner is one of the great challenges of human communication. The ancient Greeks articulated rhetorical strategies that used pathos, ethos, and logos to show how an effective argument is not just emotional but also logical and credible. In the past, I have reverted to emotional appeals too much when making a case. Academic writing has taught me the value of taking a step back from my emotions and considering other points of view.
I have learned that an academic argument can take on many different forms, but generally includes four main components. Those four components include the claim, the evidence, the counterargument, and the rebuttal (“English 122: Composition II An Introduction to Argument,” n.d.). The claim is my position, or my thesis statement. The evidence comprises the factual foundation for my argument, the logos component of the argument. The counterargument is where I can consider alternative points of view, and the rebuttal is where I respond to those opposing points of view using logic and reason.
A recent argument I experienced was related to healthcare, and the opposing views of insurance providers versus patients and healthcare workers. One side was claiming that the healthcare system needs to remain profit-driven in order to stimulate competition...
References
“English 122: Composition II An Introduction to Argument,” (n.d.). Ashford University.
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