Unit 5 - Arguments

         Unit 5 was a shorter unit that focused on arguing, persuading, and the differences between the two.  That is what I will briefly touch on in this blog, the differences between arguing and persuading.

        On the surface, arguing and persuading seem to be identical, almost inseperable.  But if we break each down to its core structure, they are very different.  For starters, effective arguments are supported by facts, evidence and logical reasoning.  Persuasions, however, are more emotionally driven.  They focus more on personal beliefs and feelings.  They are rarely supported by facts or evidence.  Arguments and persuasions share a commonality, which is, whether arguing or persuading, both sides are trying to convince the other that their opinion is right.  "An argument is when two or more people have different opinions and want to prove that their opinion is right" (Looking for Evidence (Argumentative) 89).  While persuasions are also formed from opinions, they lack effective facts and evidence to support the opinion.  What seperates arguments from persuasions is the manner in which the convincing of the other side is done.

        In addition to the quote provided abve, a list was comprised of elements of arguments and elements of persuasions in the same reading.  Arguments have reasoning and support, facts that support both sides of the argument, as well as acknowledgements of the other side of the argument.  Persuasions are opinions that lack data, they do not acknowledge the other side of the argument and they are emotionally driven (Looking for Evidence 88).

        I have included a clip from a college professors lecture concerning the basic, but most important difference between arguing and persuading.  It is just over a minute long, but I think it is very effective.