The Argument Today with Readings

For courses in Argument.
A refreshing approach to composition, Argument Today prepares students to communicate persuasively and collaboratively in academic, career, and other real life settings.    This text equips students to create effective academic papers as well as persuasive compositions in many genres and media relevant in and beyond higher education.  Such breadth of applicability is further effected by presenting argument also as a generative form of communication–an ongoing conversation employed by teams or groups of people to share information, formulate new ideas, modify plans, negotiate agreements, and build consensus.  Systematically explored throughout, this expanded perspective opens students to the immediate relevance of argument to their multi-faceted lives.

Part I: Fundamentals of Argument
1. Starting an Argument
2. Generative Arguments
3. Persuasive Arguments
4. Critical Reading and Rhetorical Analysis

Part II: Genres of Argument
5. Descriptions – Arguing About People, Places, Things, and Events
6. Comparisons – Arguing by Comparing and Contrasting
7. Causal Analyses – Arguing Through Causes and Effects
8. Visual Essays – Arguing by Showing and Telling
9. Narrative Arguments – Arguing with Stories
10. Reviews – Arguing About Performance
11. Evaluations – Arguing About Value
12. Commentaries – Arguing About Current Issues and Events
13. Refutations – Arguing the Opposing Side
14. Proposals – Arguing About the Future
15. Research Papers and Reports – Arguing with Research

Part III: The Research Project
16. Developing Your Research Process
17. Crediting, Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
18. Using MLA Style
19. Using APA Style

Part IV: Style, Design, and Medium
20. Arguing with Style
21. Designing Arguments
22. Presenting Your Argument
23. Arguing in Virtual Spaces

Part V: Anthology of Arguments
24. College Life
25. Human Nature and the Mind
26. Pop Culture and Entertainment
27. Place and Environment
28. Healthy Living