Wednesday, Sept. 17 Notes

Today Beowulf was given out and Mr. Laz said we should start reading some of it to get an idea what it's going to be like (he said the intro helps). He also said how you can submit your literary bio by e-mailing stoll@rowan.edu and call it your "literary biography" and get a permission slip in a return e-mail so the college can use it.

Qualifier Notes

• Because arguments are not expected to show 100% certainty, qualifiers state the degree of probability that the claim has.
• They specify the self imposed limits of the claim by establishing conditionality.
• Qualifying words (like sometimes, maybe, might, many, few, possibly and probably) show that the argument is not true 100% of the time.
• Qualifying words can make arguments stronger by giving a degree of flexibility.
• Words like always and never are dangerous because they establish !00% certainty which is most likely not true.

Example: CLAIM: Hearing aids help people hear better.

CLAIM + QUALIFIER: Hearing aids help most people hear better.

• The audience recognizes the claim is not true 100% so the audience can agree easier.

Reservation

• The reservation recognizes that the claim could be wrong, giving the audience less reason to argue.

Example: CLAIM: Hearing aids do no harm to ears.

CLAIM + RESERVATION: Unless there is evidence to the contrary, hearing aids do no harm to ears.

Rebuttal

• The rebuttal acknowledges exceptions or limitations in the argument, and admits where the argument would not hold.
• It answers the question "What are the other possible views on this issue?"
• Academic arguments often include discussions of possible objections and counterarguments to the position being advanced because arguments normally take place where competing positions exist.
• In order to engage in an argument, the writer must be aware of the audiences pre-existing beliefs and opinions because that is the basis that the writer will build a claim and defense.
• Dealing with counterarguments and objections is a key part of building, refining, and analyzing arguments.
• The rebuttal demonstrates that the author is aware of competing viewpoints, showing that your are fair instead of biased, making it easier for the audience to be persuaded.
• It also shows that you gave careful thought about how your audience was going to respond by anticipating their responses and eliminating counterarguments.
• When a writer contrasts their position with opposing viewpoints, the writer clarifies the argument for the reader and themselves.

- Paul Derickson