1、Introduction to Evaluative Arguments,Scott Hale English 1213,Definitional Arguments:,Basis of All Knowledge/CommunicationArgue that Item X belongs in Category Y Scooter (X) is a murderer (Y),Evaluative Arguments:,The next step in Knowledge/CommunicationHaving defined an item-X is a Y We then evaluat
2、e that item-X is a good/bad Y Evaluations depend upon definitions,Requirements for Evaluative Arguments:,Evaluations require comparison/contrast between items within the same category/genusTo argue that this is a good/bad chair requires that we compare/contrast it with other chairs.,AND.,Evaluative
3、Arguments must be couched in evaluative terms. Adjectives. Good/bad; effective/ineffective; successful/unsuccessful; cooperative/ uncooperative; resentful/unresentful Flag Day is a joyous holiday.,Toulmin Schema:,Today is a beautiful day b/c it is sunny. C: Today is a beautiful day R: b/c it is sunn
4、y G: Today is sunny; Ev: Support that it is sunny today W: Any day that is sunny is a beautiful day B: Support that beautiful days are sunny,Strategy for Constructing Evaluative Arguments:,Construct convincing criteria for evaluation. Demonstrate that the evaluated item possess those criteria. Sunni
5、ness is the criteria for a beautiful day Today possesses that criteria (sunniness),Difficulties in Constructing Evaluative Arguments:,Demonstrating that the evaluated item possess that criteria (Synthesis/analysis)Constructing convincing criteria Problems.,Problem of Standards: Normal vs. Ideal:,Cur
6、few.Normal-12:00 MidnightIdeal-Before sunrise,Problem of Mitigating Circumstances:,Circumstances out of the ordinary/Things we cant control. Revision Guides? Drunk? Hit and Run?Mitigating Circumstances revise criteria,Problem of 2 Goods vs. 2 Bads:,2000 Ferrari vs. 1979 Pinto?2000 Ferrari vs. 2000 L
7、amborghini? 1979 Pinto vs. 1974 Nova?Evaluating 2 Goods vs. 2 Bads revise criteria,Problem of Seductive Empirical Measures:,Statistics100% of College students drink on Friday night 100% of College students study on Saturday nightControl the numbers,Problem of Cost:,What happen if the best costs too
8、much? To enhance student learning, OU should buy every student a laptop computer. To teach effective birth control, every student should have to have sex using a condom Cost isnt always about $,Determining Criteria for Evaluative Arguments:,Step 1: Determine the genus-too broad/too narrow? Step 2: Determine the purpose/function of genus Step 3: Determine criteria based upon purpose/function Step 4: Give relative weight to criteria-which is most important?,
