Styles of writing

The way someone says something can vastly change the meaning of what is said. As a child, my parents always said to me that, “it is not what you say, it is the way you say is…” That, in fact, was one of the best lessons that my parents taught m about communication, because the idea is applicable in all forms of communication. Even in unspoken communication.

One would not dress like a slob when going to court or an important interview. Rather one would dress nice because the clothes that one wears and the way one acts express information about oneself. Likewise, one would not write a speech filled with jokes bashing on Judaism if he or she was presenting at a holocaust remembrance event. The reason is, because the speaker would loose the audience. The speaker would loose credibility, interest and respect from the audience. In turn, the audience would then loose interest in the speaker and his or her speech.

The speaker must find the right style to speak in, in order to keep his or her audience interested. Similarly, a writer must find the correct style to write in to keep his or her audience interested in the writing.

I find this idea quite challenging. The way I look at it when writing with the intent of using all aspects of writing style, rather than just writing a paper, I feel that I would instead be creating a work of art – almost a symphony. As chapter 13 states, the style of a paper is created by every single little detail of the paper. Style is created from the structure of the paragraphs and the sentences to the words used in them and how those words are arranged. Writing with a specific style in mind seems like a very tedious. However writing with style can help a paper form from just a paper to a work of art. But you have to push that button, and “turn your swag on".

Chapter 7 – Structuring Arguments

I found this chapter very interesting on a personal level. The chapter caught my attention because, as cruel as it seems, I see almost all conversations as arguments! My definition for an argument however may be tad different to the obvious definition. As explained in chapter 7, arguments are one party trying to convince another party to think or do, as the one party wants them too. The definition may seem very basic and obvious, but when one looks at it where it applies to every conversation, the idea that everything is an argument shows. For example, in a normal conversation with my friends and myself, we have to make decisions on that deal with the basic who, what, when and where. If I want to go to the gym with one of my buddies, I have to convince him, to do what I want him to do. The way of convincing becomes almost an art form within itself. In the basics of arguing, I can use inductive and deductive reasoning to convince my friend to go to the gym when I want him to. An example of deductive reasoning is if I said, “pool season is coming up, we need to get cut for pool season, so let’s go to the gym.” Even decisions such as, where my friends and I want to study or do homework are arguments. For example something as simple as, “my roommate isn’t here so we should study in my room” is deductive reasoning.

            The same ideas apply to writing. Even when writing the simplest notes, there is always some type of argument going on. However, in the most complex and convincing papers, the structure of the argument becomes very important. I was blown away when I read the section “the Classic Oration” because none of my high school professors told me that the style of arguing that they were drilling into my head was one that originated from the Greeks and the Romans.

            The “Classic Oration” has a bit of an odd school feel to me, because I have being writing in that same form for the last almost 5 years. For writing project 2, I feel that the “Toulmin Argument” or the “Rogerian Argument” will be more effect than the odd school, “in court” style argument. I feel that the Rogerian argument will be more effect because, as I have come to understand it, is defined as understanding the problem from both perspectives and then leaving the only option that seems probably to be the one that favors your party the most. The arguer still states how your solution benefits the opponent too. Toulmin arguments are all about the claim and basically, that is what writing project 2 is about - what makes the claim of one person correct to apply over the masses, or something life that. 

Ethos, the Art of Convincing

Artist often times try to make their audiences feel a certain way when the audiences look at the art. In chapter three, I feel like writing is shown as an art because of that exact reason. The writer has to make the audience believe that, they have authority to speak write on the subject, that the audience can trust the author, and that he or she has good motives about the subject. Looking at writing arguments in that way makes writing almost look like a magic trick. All smoke and mirrors.

Magic trick or not, to be an affect writer one must make sure that the audience understands his or her argument. When one understands where an argument originated he or she can more easily be swayed by the argument. That is one of the main parts that make up ethos.

We use ethos for almost ever decision we make. As the book says, “because life is complicated, we often need shortcuts to help us make choices. We can’t weigh ever claim to its last milligram or trace every fragment of evidence” (Lunsford 57). So we listen to what people say and “trust” them. However, first one must gain credibility to be largely believed.

In the movie “Thank you for Smoking” the main character is a lobbyist that uses his speaking to convince people that although smoking is not bad and there is no reason to band tobacco products. The movie is obviously taking a shot at tobacco companies that try to gain credibility through good speakers and convincing advertisement campaigns. The main character uses ethos to make the public agree to his point of view. 

Is a book explaining what an argument is, an argument?

My life has been filled with arguments. I knew that before I read chapter one of "Inventing Arguments." Now, however, it seems that ever word I speak is an argument! "People are surrounded by argument. It can be said that public life is an argument" (Argument 5). 

I read on only to discover that the meaning of argument that the authors are using differs from my own definition. When I personally think of arguments, I think of heated debates that often end in conflict of some kind. The definition the authors use is one where there is no conflict (war, physical fight...) but rather, the whole argument is centered on making the argument seem reasonable and acceptable.

Arguments come in all shapes and sizes. Rhetoric is the basis for all argument, according to the text. It is, “a process of recognizing and using the most effective strategies for influencing thought” (Argument 8). After reading the definition and information about rhetoric, I was almost enlightened. It is such a simple and logical idea though – arguing in the most efficient way for the argument. The whole concept of rhetoric shifts the purpose of an English or writing class away from the exactness of form writing and blends it with situational communication.

On an even deeper sense, rhetoric is the exploration of what makes a language mean what it means. It is really fascinating. I have never thought of an argument is such a way that I must go so deep into the situation in order to see the thoughts that the “reader” of my argument might be thinking and how I can manipulate those thoughts with my words.

I almost feel like a mad scientist controlling the minds of the people whole read my writing.

Writing Project 1:

For my WP1 I was considering looking into the argument behind some of the advertisement for SOPA and other recent controversies.