Chapter 2. Rhetorical Precis

  The first part of this chapter deals with controversies. Most often controversies are portrayed as either pro or con in the media. However, if you read and listen carefully to what people have to say about a particular issue, you usually find a range of different positions on the issue, and you often discover nuances and complexities in the reasons people offer their positions. So as a writer find opposing viewpoints on the Internet about your topic then use those viewpoints pro and con to make your message clear on what you want to say. A good way to summarize an article is to map the controversies. Pick at least three sources that offer different points of view on your issue. Use these controversies and map them around your subject. While your reading and discovering arguments you should recognize fallacies. Recognizing where good reasons de-rail is a most important aspect of critical thinking. There are fallacies of logic such as begging the question, oversimplification, hasty generalization, and fake analogies. In addition there are fallacies of emotion and language such as bandwagon appeals, name calling, polarization, and straw man fallacies. Make a note of fallacies while you read. The final step is map and summarize your argument based upon the notes you took while reading and understanding this chapter.