How many times a day do you form an argument? Once? Twice? Probably a lot more than you think. Our lives are filled with opportunities to share our opinions. Everything from who you think should hold office, to where you and your friends go for lunch. As Wysocki and Lynch put it, arguments exist whenever there is a difference in opinion between people, and you try to express your views to each other. This post can serve as an argument. The argument, I am trying to explain what makes an argument an argument to you.
Now, it is easy to say something is an argument. but it is important that arguments are looked at properly. There are several steps that Wysocki and Lynch suggest in order to properly form an argument. Asking yourself some key questions to determine the root of the argument.
1. What is the motivation for the argument?
2. What does the audience expect?
3. How will the place and time affect the argument?
4. What are some strategies to achieve the goal?
5. What do audiences expect from the chosen medium?
6. How will the order of the argument affect its reception?
7. Test the argument.
8. What could be the resulting relationship between you and the audience?
Designing an argument properly is so important. If you use the wrong medium for example, it can say more than what your argument is. For example, I once saw a large pick-up truck with a bumper sticker about how the driver cared for the environment. I was able to read this just before the truck pulled away and a cloud of dirty exhaust covered it. Was the driver legitimately concerned for the environment? Maybe. Did it look like it? No. That same bumper sticker on an electric vehicle however, would make the argument very strongly.
When making an argument, it is important to look at all the characteristics of your argument, and if possible get some assistance. You need to choose the context of your argument, determine who your audience is and who they are as people. The purpose of your argument (if you have no purpose what are you even trying to say?). What strategies you can use. What is the best medium for the message. And how to best arrange the argument. Doing all this will make a base for your argument to be built off. Missing one of these can put a hole in it and make your argument weak.
Wysocki and Lynch - Designing Compositions Rhetorically
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