Considering Types

Like the labs pictured below, public arguments come in different types. Each type is better suited to different topics and rhetorical situations.

smerikal "Vesileikit" 07/17/2011 via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

I believe that the most appropriate argument type for my rhetorical situation is the causal argument. This argument will allow me to focus on identifying the root causes of the failure of the F-35 program, while guiding the audience to understand potential solutions, or come up with their own.

I could make a position argument, but public opinion on the controversy is heavily skewed against the F-35 program. While I like the idea of a proposal argument, I fear that a proposal argument would require me to analyze the political side of the controversy in greater depth, as any solution would have to got through Congress. I could develop an evaluative or refutation argument by targeting a specific side of the controversy, but that would require a heavily opinionated argument.

I read Brandon's Considering Types and Rhetorical Action Plan posts, as well as Dylan's Considering Types and Rhetorical Action Plan posts. Both Brandon and Dylan had good ideas for the direction of their projects. They both have different topics and genres from me, and accordingly chose different types of arguments. Any type of argument can be effective if it is used in an appropriate rhetorical situation and effectively uses rhetorical strategies to present an opinion.