Thursday, September 18 Notes

Be ready to read the poem Beowulf next week. We will being a powerpoint on it. Look up some background information online.

Rebuttal (continued)
-when the writer contrasts their position with the opposing arguments, the writer clarifies - for their readers as well as themselves! - the position for which they are arguing.

Dealing with Rebuttal
Tactic #1: Strategic Concession
-acknowledge some of the opposition argument's merits - but reject it overall
-this may mean accepting or incorporating some components of an authors, while rejecting other parts

Tactic #2:Refutation
-show important weaknesses and short comings in an opponent's position that demonstrate their argument must be rejected in its entirety

Tactic #3: Demonstration of Irrelevance
-opposing views, while perhaps valid in certain respects, do not in fact meet the criteria of relevance that define the issue
-it's worth mentioning that any rebuttal is an argument in itself, and thus may include its own claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and rebuttal
-thus a writer presenting an argument can seek both possible rebuttals, rebuttals to the rebuttals,... and so on.

Puttin' It Together
-meet your new prewriting organizer: the "Toulmin Sentence"
-because (grounds), therefore, or so (qualifier?) (claim), since (warrant), because, or on account of (backing), unless (reservation).
Example
claim- people should wear seatbelts
support- there is a high rate of serious injury in accidents when seatbelts are not worn
warrant- serious injury should be avoided
backing- serious injury is costly, painful, and dangerous
qualifier- typically
reservation- seatbelts should not be worn in cases where they may be dangerous, like on small children
rebuttal- there is a high rate of serious injury when seatbelts are worn

(Toulmin Sentence)
Because their is a high rate of serious injury in accidents when seatbelts are not worn, typically, people should wear seatbelts, since serious injury should be avoided because it can be costly, painful and dangerous unless there is a situation where they may be dangerous, like on small children. While some may say there is a high rate of serious injury when seatbelts are worn, such as when the car goes underwater or catches fire, having a device to cut the seatbelt is better than not wearing a seatbelt at all.

Home Work

write a Toulmin Sentence for the following claim:

"Sweetened soft drinks should be removed from the school's vending machines"

-Joe Forline