Ethical argumentation and the art of

anticipating opposing views

Typically, good arguments will feature a combination of logic, emotion, and ethics. Logic, the bottom line of any good argument, comes from providing facts, believable analysis, expert opinions, and credible research. Emotional appeal in argument refers to anything that will get your readers interested and involved in your discussion; for example, individualized stories, the use of personal experience, and even the use of vivid, concrete language all create a kind of emotional appeal, a "wake-up call" to your readers.

The third type of argumentative appeal, the ethical appeal, is the subject of this exercise. Basically, ethical appeal has to do with how you present yourself to the reader, whether or not you come across in your essay as fair, believable, and trustworthy. Especially when you are writing a persuasive essay, it is important that you strive for a strong sense of ethics. How do you create ethical appeal in an essay? Here are some methods:

• Use reliable sources: The more credible your research is, the more believable and trustworthy your paper will be.
• Be fair: If this is a controversial issue, fairly discuss the opposing views on it.
• Be respectful: Do not insult or attack those who hold opposing views.
• Anticipate opposing arguments: If some of your readers will disagree with your views and argue against them, anticipate what their arguments are, and find a way to include and "defuse" them in your essay.

If you would like some practice in working with opposing views, try this exercise:

Make a chart listing the arguments for and against the statement in bold below. After deciding which side of this argument you would fall on, then go on to write a paragraph in which you discuss the opposing arguments.

Remember, in your paragraph, to anticipate and discuss the reasons why some will not agree with your position. Be respectful to their opinions and treat them fairly. Toward the end of the paragraph, though, try to come up with a few sentences in which you point out some of the problems with their reasoning.

Please begin your paragraph with this sentence: "Even though I feel strongly that the U.S. should (or should not) put this policy in place, I understand that others will disagree with me."

Here is the controversial claim:

"The United States should create a policy requiring two years of mandatory military service for all legal residents. Young men and women will be required to enter the military on their 18th birthday, and they will serve for two years, until their 20th birthday."