Effective Argument Writing: Rules and Fallacies, Study notes of Technical Writing

Download Effective Argument Writing: Rules and Fallacies and more Study notes Technical Writing in PDF only on Docsity! GENERAL RULES FOR SHORT ARGUMENTS 1. Distinguish between premises and conclusion: “[T]he conclusion is the statement for which you are giving reasons. The statements which give your reasons are called ‘premises.’” 2. Present your ideas in a natural order: “Put the conclusion first, followed by your reasons, or set out your premises first and draw the conclusion at the end. In any case, set out your ideas in an order that unfolds your line of thought most naturally for the reader.” 3. Start from reliable premises: “No matter how well you argue from premises to conclusion, your conclusion will be weak if your premises are weak. . . If you are not sure about the reliability of a premise, you may need to do some research, and/or give a short argument for the premise itself.” 4. Use definite, specific, concrete language: “Write concretely: avoid abstract, vague, general terms. ‘We hiked for hours in the sun’ is a hundred times better than ‘It was an extended period of laborious exertion.’” 5. Avoid loaded language: “Do not make your argument look good by caricaturing the opposing side. Generally people advocate a position for serious and sincere reasons. Try to figure out their view, even if you think they are dead wrong. . . In general, avoid language whose only function is to sway the emotions of your readers or hearers, either for or against the view you are discussing.” 6. Use consistent terms: “Stick to a single set of terms for each idea. . . Consistent terms are especially important when your argument depends on the connections between the premises.” 7. Stick to one meaning for each term: “The opposite temptation is to use a single word in more than one sense. This is the classical fallacy of ‘equivocation.’ Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 1992.