The Argument Toolbox

K.J. Peters is Professor of English at Loyola Marymount University. He has 15 years of experience directing first-year writing programs and training graduate students, instructors, and professors of many disciplines in composition pedagogy and rhetorical theory.

Chapter 1 Building Arguments: An Introduction

Module I-1: Argument Defined
Module I-2: Invention and Research: How Will You Find Ideas and Evidence?
Module I-3: What You Need to Know about Writing in Universities and Colleges

Chapter 2 Inventing and Researching Arguments

Module II-1: Elements of Effective Invention
Module II-2: Invention Strategies
Module II-3: Using Research to Find and Develop Ideas
Module II-4: Using Databases and Search Engines
Module II-5: Organizing Your Research
Module II-6: How Do I Evaluate Sources?
Module II-7: Avoiding Plagiarism
Module II-8: Integrating Sources Authoritatively

Chapter 3 Orienting Arguments

Module III-1: Rhetorical Situation Defined
Module III-2: Audience Defined
Module III-3: Analyzing an Audience
Module III-4: Using Appeals, Media, and Conventions to Influence Your Audience

Chapter 4 Framing Arguments

Module IV-1: Framing Your Subject
Module IV-2: Primary and Secondary Stasis Questions
Module IV-3: Building an Argument Using Stasis Questions

Chapter 5 Shaping Arguments

Module VI-1: What Audiences Expect of a State-the-Facts Argument
Module VI-2: A State-the-Facts Genre: Research Paper
Module VI-3: What Audiences Expect of a Definition Argument
Module VI-4: A Definition Genre: Research Paper
Module VI-5: What Audiences Expect of a Causal Argument
Module VI-6: A Causal Argument Genre: Research Paper
Module VI-7: What Audiences Expect of an Analysis and Evaluation
Module VI-8: An Analysis and Evaluation Genre: Review of a Cultural Event
Module VI-9: What Audiences Expect of a Proposal
Module VI-10: A Proposal Genre: Position Paper

Chapter 6 Polishing Arguments

Module VI-1: Logical Fallacies Defined
Module VI-2: Awkwardness and Flow Defined
Module VI-3: Using Visuals in your Argument
Module VI-4: Using Design Conventions in your Argument
Module VI-5: Proofreading your Argument

Chapter 7 Documentation

Module VII-1: MLA Style for In-text Citation
Module VII-2: MLA List of Works Cited
Module VII-3: APA Style for In-text Citation
Module VII-4: APA List of References