Genres & Dialectical Thinking

Review

• Kahoot! Game!

Today's scripture

• Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

When reading or listening...

• one must understand the rhetorical context
• consider the genre (recurring type or category of argument)
• effect how the reader interprets writing

Examples
position papers,
scholarly publications, letters to the editor, newspaper editorials, blogs, websites, visual images such as a political cartoon, and a host of others

Questions-RHETORICAL context

• Who is the author of the piece?
• What are his or her credentials?
• What is the genre of the publication?
• What is the purpose of the piece?

rhetorical context

• facilitates understanding of the message the author conveyed and the tone in which he or she conveys it

Read Jesus Was...

• What is the author’s purpose in writing this letter to the editor?
• How would you characterize the tone?
• What is the level of formality of the language? What are some examples to support your answer?
• How much research do you think went into the article? What are some examples to support your answer?

how to read arguments?

determine author's purpose and tone

• read once as a reader who believes the author’s words
• read as one focused on disagreeing or doubting the author’s words

Reading with purpose to agree

• assumption that he or she believes the author’s claims and feels sympathetic toward the author
• understand an author’s point of view...even if views differ
• suspend all skepticism and bias about the stance and listen
• assess how his or her own stance compares and contrasts

Reading as a Skeptic

• reading an argument with not only a critical eye for detail
• intention of finding flaws in the author’s argument
• questions the author’s point of view, evidence supporting claims, logic, and also assesses what the argument lacks
• helps the reader analyze the text in depth for understanding

Dialectical Thinking

• examines multiple perspectives about a topic or issue before reaching a decision about one’s stance regarding that topic or issue
• consider all sides of an issue equally before deciding their stance on the issue
• determine the best way to reconcile info that seems contradictory

Thesis

• proposed argument or position

Example
If one were a supporter of America adopting universal health care, one might make the following argument and/or write the following thesis statement:

"The United States needs to implement universal health care because Americans have the right to efficient, affordable health care, and it is the role of the government to provide it to all Americans. "

Antithesis

• to the opposing argument of a thesis
• could be a thesis statement for an essay or it could be used as a counterargument

Example
Argument against or antithesis to the stance about universal healthcare in America might be:

"The United States should not implement universal health care because it opposes the idea of a free-market health care system, is costly to taxpayers, and infringes upon Americans’ constitutional rights."

Synthesis

• point of view that emerges after one considers the perspectives offered in both the thesis and antithesis arguments
• one might choose agree with the thesis or choose to agree with the antithesis

Untitled Slide

• one might choose a different perspective altogether or one that marries some of the ideas in the thesis

Example
When marrying two ideas together...

"While all Americans have a right to accessible, efficient health care, universal health care should be a matter left up to individual states to determine."

Arguments...

• do not always include a quarrel or fight or declare a winner or loser
• provide evidence to support claims
• persuade your audience of your point of view
• consider genres and dialectical thinking
• need to be narrowed down to be effective, using pre-writing methods

Create thesis, antithesis, and synthesis

• Get into your previous groups
• Review the handout with examples
• As a group, write an example thesis, antithesis, and synthesis for your groups assigned topic from last class

Topics Used last week

• Should drug tests be required in order to receive financial aid?
• Should student athletes be paid?
• Should schools require students to participate in community service?