Argumentation Understanding and Shaping Arguments

This highly regarded textbook explores the skills—clear thinking, critical listening, and careful analysis—that are vital to rational, democratic discourse, and that today’s citizens and professionals need to make and evaluate arguments in real-life contexts.

Drawing on classical and contemporary theory, it explores the structure of arguments; the criteria of evidence, validity, and linguistic clarity; common types of arguments and fallacies; and issues in adapting arguments to audiences. Abundant examples and exercises illustrate principles in terms of students’ personal, professional, and civic lives.

The new edition is updated to reflect current theory and public concerns, including issues that arise with rapidly expanding internet resources and digital media.

FEATURES

focus on argument in students’ own lives, with examples from a wide array of current issues and contexts

emphasis on ethical responsibility and audience-centered argument

substantive, clear, engaging explanations of concepts, principles, and guidelines

thorough, step-by-step approach to understanding and analyzing arguments

FEATURES OF THE NEW EDITION

updated examples and exercises, reflecting current events, issues, and media forms

expanded, updated discussions of visual evidence and arguments (Chapters 6 and 17)

new discussion of conspiracy theories and critical evaluation of evidence (Chapter 6)

expanded discussion of internet resources and discourse, with a new section on podcasts (Chapter 7)

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

key terms at the beginning of each chapter, with a glossary at the end of the book

abundant exercises following each chapter

epigrams, pull quotes, and figures highlighting salient points

photographs illustrating visual arguments and the pervasiveness of argument in our lives