Article Review: Organizing and Assessing Arguments 1

Persuasion = Stating and Arguing Claims Well

(Summary)
This article is about Daniel Lapp and Douglas Fisher, talking about a ninth grader
teacher, Theresa Kavanaugh (name is pseudonym) who wants to teach her students on how
important persuasion is to win in an argument or to be successful in life. By Introducing three
important elements on how to support an argument and to persuade the audience, namely ethos
(Character), to always consider the authority of the character who is trying to be convincing,
logos (word), which is adding data, statistics, quotes, and facts, and pathos (suffering), is to
relate some element of the argument to appeal emotions (Lapp & Fisher, 2012). Guiding her
students in learning how to make a persuasive argument, she first let her students identify
arguments or ads in real life and relate to it whether it is persuasive, convincing, and with
authority. By the help of internet, it is possible to easily search whether a persons claims and
grounds are true. Lastly, as she identifies that her students already understand and know how to
make a good argument which must be persuasive, she used standards in order to assess her
students argument, which is for the students to evaluate the power of their persuasive essays or
arguments. If everything goes as to what Theresa wants, her students was able to independently
write and construct a good essay/argument and be able to argue on the so-called little things
which does not make sense yet is often use and accepted in society.
(Reflection)
I find it quite familiar to Dr. Hollers class, College Writing. Creating arguments,
counterarguments, grounds, warrants, etc. is important in order to persuade others to share your
thoughts, or for some instance, to share Truth. We must be ready to convince the person/group
we are arguing, to answer the question of why and state evidences which all relate to our claim
and must have integrity within it and within the whole (Dr. Holler). I learned that we must not
act or believe in anything without knowing what is the motive behind it, why is it being shared
and also, our action towards it must not be because it appealed to our emotions rather, knowing if
the source of information and the authority that is responsible for its spread is legit. Persuasion,
for me, is very common. I heard and experience a lot of it and most of the time, I will not believe
in whatever others will say unless I know that it is true, or I have made my research about it. I
know that this article is helpful because I made my research about the writers, Daniel Lapp and
Douglas Fisher, who happens work at the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State
Article Review: Organizing and Assessing Arguments 2

University, and both is interested in school improvement. I also learned that in making arguments
or if you are attempting to persuade someone, your argument must be sensible and meaningful
with proper claims and grounds, connecting to each other. I learned in another perspective in ITC
that when making an essay or arguing about something, we must consider the traditions, cultures,
and perspective of others for we might not share the same view and perspective about the topic
and stating each part (claims and grounds) clear and understandable to the other party. It is hard
to share what we believe in and convince others especially in a diverse cultural environment, but
by correct and proper argument, we can convince almost anyone to share our beliefs, to
somehow let them think that our words or arguments make sense at all (as long as they are open-
minded and willing to learn).

Reference:
Lapp, D., & Fisher, D. (2012, April). Persuasion = Stating and Arguing Claims
Well. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy , 641-644.