The Structure of Argument

by Annette Rottenberg -

The Structure of Argument covers critical thinking, reading, writing, and research. It is concise but thorough and presents everything students need in an affordable, compact format. The Structure of Argument includes questions, exercises, and writing assignments, and a full semester’s worth of readings. Now presenting Aristotelian and Rogerian as well as Toulmin argument, it includes many fresh readings and additional support for academic writing to help students stake their claim. Its emphasis on Toulmin argument makes Structure highly teachable, since the approach fits with the goals of the composition course. An electronic edition is available at half the price of the print book.

Genres: Philosophy, Writing, College, Nonfiction

552 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This textbook doesn't suck.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, quick, and easy reference when writing a paper.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good as far as textbooks go.

[Cecilia Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading this for an English course and there are some interesting articles in this textbook..

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rhetoric textbook for first year composition courses. There's not that much else to say about it. It's better than some I've taught out of, but it also doesn't discuss somethings I wish it did (like personal narratives) and doesn't discuss somethings the way I wish it did (like the Toulmin model, which isn't just an enthymeme). But generally it's clear and accessible with good reading selections and examples.
https://youtu.be/VXokCeViDoo

[Michael Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mandatory read for one of my writing classes in college. Ok read for the art of argument and how to properly put an argument together and using logic to end up in a fair result. Decent for it's purpose but nothing to ARGUE about :)

[Nara]

A good read for everyone who doesn’t plan to become an American president

I wish I had come across with this book many years ago. The book , or better to say textbook, covers all subjects from how to start planning an argumentative essay to how to prepare a presentation, and it provides annotated samples almost for every topic. It is not a book for reading rather a reference book to have on the table.

Some statements during an American presidential debate can be a good example of how not to build your argument. This dialogue from the second presidential debate is particularly striking:

Cooper[an anchor]: For the record, are you saying that what you said on the bus 11 years ago, that you did not actually kiss women without consent or grope women without consent? […..]--Have you ever done those things?
Trump: -- And they[women] have respect for me. And I will tell you, no I have not. And I will tell you, that I’m going to make our country safe and we’re going to have borders which we don't have now. People are pouring into our country and they’re coming in from the Middle East and other places.

So, anyone who doesn’t plan to become a president of the USA definitely should have “The Structure of the Argument” on the table.