Argumentation: Understanding and Shaping Arguments, third edition

James A. Herrick

ISBN 10: 1891136178 ISBN 13: 9781891136177

Publisher: Strata Pub Co, 2007

Synopsis

Argumentation: Understanding and Shaping Arguments explores the concepts and principles of clear thinking, critical listening, and careful analysis that active citizens and professionals need to evaluate and make arguments effectively. Professors who use the book have praised its emphasis on real-life argument--the political discourse and the social, professional, and personal contexts where students encounter and make arguments in their own lives.

Drawing on classical and contemporary theory and principles, Dr. Herrick explores the structure of arguments; relationships between reasons and conclusions; the criteria of evidence, validity, and definitional clarity; common types of arguments and fallacies; and issues of adapting arguments to audiences.

About this title

About the Author

James A. Herrick received his B.A. from California State University, Fresno; his M.A. from the University of California, Davis; and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the Guy Vander Jagt Professor of Communication at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where he was department chair for ten years. Herrick is the author of five books, on topics ranging from the history of rhetoric to the religious discourse of Enlightenment England. He teaches courses in argumentation, critical thinking, and the history of rhetoric. Professor Herrick sits on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals and is a founding member of the Baylor University Press series in rhetoric and religion. He is the 2007 recipient of the John and Ruth Reed Faculty Achievement Award for excellence in teaching and research.

From the Back Cover

Herrick is a good writer, and I like the disciplined, no nonsense approach that he takes here. I also sense that this is written by someone who has a solid command of the philosophy of argumentation. . . . Textbooks reflect their fields, and I think this one speaks well of the communication discipline."
Thomas Lessl, University of Georgia

"Students responded favorably and non-honors students not only kept pace but excelled. I attribute their success to the direct, concrete, and concise nature of Herrick's prose--and to the high utility and heurism of the exercises following each chapter."
Robert Greenstreet, East Central University

"Herrick consistently connects his discussion back to ideals and traditions of civic discourse and the practical dimension of rhetorical argument. These themes recur throughout the text and form another of the main strengths of the book."
James M. Farrell, University of New Hampshire

"[T]he explanations provided in the text are clear; the examples and exercises assist the students in applying the relevant theoretical material."
Margaret Michels, Pennsylvania State University

"The students seemed to both like it and learn from it."
Beth Brunk-Chavez, University of Texas at El Paso

On the new edition
"It builds upon established strength and further improves the book as a text for undergraduate courses in general argumentation."
David Zarefsky, Northwestern University

"This revision actually improves a text which already fits my needs much better than I anticipated . . . . I am very likely to adopt the new edition, as it represents an improved version of the current text (more thorough explanation without a lot more girth)."
Robert Greenstreet, East Central University

"I find the more detailed discussion and use of additional explanatory examples very helpful."
Margaret Michels, Pennsylvania State University

"The proposed second edition will meet my needs as well or better than the current edition."
Frank O'Mara, State University of New York at Oneonta


On the focus on ethics and reasonable arguments

"I am pleased to see a concern for ethics."
Karen Lee, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

"I find especially important the discussion of argument ethics and the focus on `reasonable' arguments and `reasonable' people as crucial to the process of argumentation."
Diane Blair, California State University, Fresno

"Another major strength of the text is the emphasis on ethics and the related discussion of the qualities or virtues of `reasonable' people."
James M. Farrell, University of New Hampshire

"One of the things that attracted me to this book was its more extensive discussion of the role of ethics in argument. Most books of this kind have what I regard as a superficial treatment of 'communication ethics,' but they don't really reflect on the value issues that underlie ethics."
Thomas Lessl, University of Georgia


On the explanations and examples

"Nicely accessible."
Erica Hollander, Metropolitan State College, Denver

"I appreciate the range of examples--from the everyday, academic, political, to pop culture. . . . The examples are numerous and varied. If one doesn't make sense in a student's mind, another one will."
Beth Brunk-Chavez, University of Texas at El Paso

"The examples are well chosen and to the point."
David Zarefsky, Northwestern University

"I appreciate Herrick's clear and concise writing style."
Diane Blair, California State University, Fresno

"The Herrick text is thorough without developing the unnecessary detailed refinements that many unsophisticated, younger students find obfuscatory."
Dennis Wignall, Dixie State College

"[I]ts greatest strengths are detailed discussions of different kinds of arguments and how to analyze them, as well as the exercises."
Beth Innocenti Manolescu, University of Kansas

"Good definitions and examples are provided."
David Moss, Crafton Hills and Mount San Jacinto College

On the instructor's manual

"[The instructors' manual] looks incredibly useful,. . . . everything in the manual is very helpful and I will certainly make good use of it."
Beth Brunk-Chavez, University of Texas at El Paso

Edition details

• Publisher: Strata Pub Co
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1891136178
• ISBN 13: 9781891136177
• Binding: Textbook Binding
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 283
• Editor: Robert S. Iltis