Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page

Jones, R. (1997). Finding the Good Argument OR Why Bother With Logic? Retrieved from http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/jones–finding-the-good-argument.pdf

Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words

        In this piece, Rebecca Jones states the current status of argument as a concept, stating that most Americans view argument as a war like construct, only used in defining a battle of sorts. She goes to explain how the term has much more positive potential than that, because it is not the word itself that constitutes battle, but those too consumed by emotion to understand it. Argument can establish an understanding of perspective in those who us it, however many Americans simply use it as a way of forcefully expressing their opinion without exhibiting the minimal consideration that it would take to simply hear out and comprehend those of others. The other idea that Jones’ writing touches on is the three Greek pillars of rhetoric; Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ethos is the appeal to one’s personal values, seen in advertisements that use celebrity endorsement. Pathos is the appeal to one’s emotions, ie. Sarah Palin commercials. Logos is logical reasoning, the most quantifiable of the three.

Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.

Intractable – Hard to control or deal with

“Argument is Dance” (157) – Rather than viewing argument as war, we can look at it as an exchange of perspective with the opportunity to use skill and elegance as a means of understand and being understood.

How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?

I felt that this article had no connections to those which we have read previously. Comparative to beginning a new unit in a typical educational curriculum.

Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion.

If you can recall, which of the three aspects of rhetoric do you most frequently focus on in approach of your arguments?