Questions about argumentation, persuasion, and the rhetoric of public debate — practice constructing and defending positions using the language of this session.
Think of a news story you have followed recently. What is the strongest argument made by each side? Which argument do you find more persuasive — and why? Try to explain your reasoning using evidence rather than just opinion.
Try to use: argument, claim, evidence, premise, conclusion
Politicians often use anecdote — a single person's story — to make a policy argument. Is this a legitimate form of persuasion, or is it misleading? When does pathos strengthen an argument, and when does it replace one?
Try to use: anecdote, pathos, logos, evidence, rhetoric
What is the difference between a well-reasoned argument and effective rhetoric? Can something be rhetorically powerful but logically weak? Give an example from politics or the media.
Try to use: rhetoric, fallacy, persuasion, ethos, logos
Is it ever intellectually honest to make a concession in an argument — to admit the other side has a point? Or does conceding ground always weaken your position? How do skilled debaters handle this?
Try to use: concession, rebuttal, counterargument, qualify, stance
Analogy is widely used in political argument — comparing, for example, a country's budget to a household budget. What makes an analogy useful? What makes one misleading? Find an analogy used in current news coverage and evaluate it.
Try to use: analogy, fallacy, implication, inference, premise
Some people argue that in the age of social media, good arguments no longer win debates — emotional appeals and tribal loyalty do. Do you agree? What does this mean for democracy and public reasoning?
Try to use: persuasion, pathos, ethos, assertion, hypothesis