Good Reasons: Researching and Writing Effective Arguments, 4th Edition

Engaging and accessible to all readers, Good Reasons is a brief, highly readable introduction to argument by two of the country's foremost rhetoricians.

INTRODUCTION

Persuading with Good Reasons 

What do we mean by argument?                       

What does “argument” mean for college writers?           

How can you argue responsibly?           

How can you argue respectfully?

 

PART 1

READING AND DISCOVERING ARGUMENTS

 

1 Why Argue? 

            Why do people write arguments?

            Why do some arguments succeed?        

            What are the goals of arguments?         

            What are rhetorical appeals?     

Finding Good Reasons              

Rachel Carson, The Obligation to Endure           

 

2 Reading Arguments

Become a critical reader           

Read actively

Recognize fallacies       

Respond as a reader     

Finding good reasons    

 

3 Finding Arguments     

            Find arguments in everyday conversations          

            Find a topic that interests you    

            Find a claim by exploring           

            Find a claim by reading             

            Find good reasons         

            Find evidence to support good reasons   

Finding good reasons    

 

4 Drafting and Revising Arguments       

State and evaluate your thesis   

Think about your readers          

Organize your argument            

Write an engaging title and introduction              

Write a strong conclusion

Evaluate your draft       

Respond to the writing of others            

Edit and proofread carefully      

Finding good reasons    

 

PART 2

ANALYZING ARGUMENTS

 

5 Analyzing Written Arguments             

            What is rhetorical analysis?       

            Build a rhetorical analysis          

Analyze the rhetorical features  

Analyze the rhetorical context   

            Write a rhetorical analysis

Barbara Jordan, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment        

T. Jonathan Ford (student), An Argument of Reason and Passion: Barbara Jordan’s “Statement on the Articles of Impeachment” 

Steps to writing a rhetorical analysis      

 

6 Analyzing Visual Arguments  

            What is a visual argument?       

            Analyze visual persuasion

            Analyze visual evidence            

            Build a visual analysis   

Write a visual analysis  

Angela Yamashita (student), Got Roddick?        

Steps to writing a visual analysis

 

 

PART 3

WRITING ARGUMENTS

 

7 Options for Arguments           

            Use different approaches to construct arguments                       

            Be aware of your goals for argument     

Finding good reasons

 

8 Definition Arguments             

            Understand how definition arguments work        

            Recognize kinds of definitions    

Build a definition argument

Finding good reasons

            Scott McCloud, Setting the Record Straight        

Chris Nguyen (student), Speech Doesn’t Have to Be Pretty to Be Protected       

Steps to writing a definition argument     

 

9 Causal Arguments     

            Understand how causal arguments work            

            Find causes      

            Build a causal argument

Finding good reasons

            Annie Murphy Paul, The Real Marriage Penalty

Emily Raine, Why Should I Be Nice to You? Coffee Shops and the Politics of Good Service         

Steps to writing a causal argument         

 

10 Evaluation Arguments

            Understand how evaluation arguments work      

            Recognize kinds of evaluations  

            Build an evaluation argument     

Finding good reasons    

Michael Eric Dyson, Gangsta Rap and American Culture            

Rashaun Giddens (student), Stop Loss or “Loss of Trust”                       

Steps to writing an evaluation argument 

 

11 Narrative Arguments                       

            Understand how narrative arguments work        

            Recognize kinds of narrative arguments 

            Build a narrative argument        

Finding good reasons    

Leslie Marmon Silko, The Border Patrol State                

Dagoberto Gilb, My Landlady’s Yard    

Steps to writing a narrative argument     

 

12 Rebuttal Arguments             

            Understand how rebuttal arguments work          

            Recognize the tactics of rebuttal arguments        

            Build a rebuttal argument          

Finding good reasons    

Dan Stein, Crossing the Line     

Gregory Rodriguez, Illegal Immigrants–They’re Money 

Steps to writing a rebuttal argument       

 

13 Proposal Arguments             

            Understand how proposal arguments work         

            Recognize components of proposal arguments    

            Build a proposal argument         

Finding good reasons    

Thomas Homer-Dixon and S. Julio Friedmann, Coal in a Nice Shade of Green     

Kim Lee (student), Let’s Make It a Real Melting Pot with Presidential Hopes for All       

Steps to writing a proposal argument      

 

 

PART 4

DESIGNING AND PRESENTING ARGUMENTS

14 Designing Arguments           

Start with your readers 

Know when to use images and graphics 

Compose and edit images          

Create tables, charts, and graphs           

Design pages for print   

Design pages for the Web         

 

15 Presenting Arguments          

Plan a presentation         

Design effective visuals  

Give a memorable presentation   

 

 

PART 5

RESEARCHING ARGUMENTS

 

16 Planning Research   

Analyze the research task         

Find a subject   

Ask a research question            

Gather information about the subject      

Draft a working thesis  

 

17 Finding Sources       

            Search with keywords  

Find books       

Find journal articles       

            Find Web sources         

 

18 Evaluating and Recording Sources    

Evaluate print sources   

Find information to cite print sources

Evaluate database sources

            Find information to cite a database source          

Evaluate Web sources  

Find information to cite a Web source    

 

19 Writing the Research Paper  

Review your goals and thesis    

Determine your contribution      

Determine your main points       

Avoid plagiarism

Quote sources without plagiarizing         

Summarize and paraphrase sources without plagiarizing  

Incorporate quotations

Incorporate visuals       

 

20 Documenting Sources in MLA Style 

Elements of MLA documentation

MLA in-text citations    

MLA works-cited list: Books

MLA works-cited list: Periodicals

MLA works-cited list: Library database sources 

MLA works-cited list: Other online sources        

MLA works-cited list: Other sources     

Brian Witkowski (student), Need a Cure for Tribe Fever? How about a Dip in the Lake? 

 

21 Documenting Sources in APA Style  

Elements of APA documentation           

In-text citations in APA style

APA references list: Books

APA references list: Library database sources

APA references list: Periodicals

APA references list: Other online sources

APA references list: Other sources

 

Appendix: A Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism     

Glossary

Index