Classical Arguments- 10/8

This chapter was especially interesting to me because in my Gcom class we are getting really close to the date that our presentations are due. I thought that it was a neat concept that there are two parts of an argument: the truth seeking part and the persuasion part. Once the book tells us these two different parts of an argument it is easy to think of examples of each; however, if this chapter had not brought that to my attention I wouldn't have ever thought of it. Argument, they say, is both a process and a product- gathering information and contributing to that debate. An argument isn't just stating your claim, as many students think, but its collecting data to back up that claim and then presenting it in a way which will persuade the audience through clear, calm evidence. Later on in the chapter the STAR criteria is introduced to us: seeing that there is sufficient evidence, representative and relevant examples, and accurate and up to date data and evidence. I think that the STAR criteria is also useful in developing a speech as well as an argumentative paper. All in all I liked what the chapter said and think it will be useful for not only future papers but future speeches as well.