Perspectives on Argument, 9th edition

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For courses in English.

Learn the skill of rational argument.

Perspectives on Argument teaches students strategies for critical thinking, critical reading, research, and writing that will help them participate in all types of argument. The 9th Edition extends beyond reading, visual, and multimodal argument into the timely topic of online argument. Students will encounter argument at home, school, and on the job. This book arms them with the tools they need to identify controversial topics, form opinions and reactions to text and pictures, and write persuasive papers that express their viewpoints. The book also follows the premise that not all arguments involve right and wrong. Students will learn skills like finding common ground, consensus, withholding opinions, negotiating, and even changing beliefs when they can no longer make a case for them.

Teaches students the skill of rational argument

• NEW! Analyzing multimodal argument discussion is a section in Chapter 8 that teaches students how to identify, analyze, and evaluate the multimodal elements (written, visual, graphic) that so many arguments include today. This instruction is carried throughout the book.
• NEW! Instruction on Informational Literacy in the research chapters include an integrated instruction model that teaches students to approach and understand the research process in terms of information literacy. Students learn how to evaluate content from different sources, assess context and credibility, and analyze how they enhance or affect argument success.
• NEW! Summary charts on multimodal argument and information literacy provide a clear description and analysis on multimodal argument and outlines the skills and concepts central to information literacy.
• NEW! Activity: Becoming a Classroom Citizen helps students apply the skills and principles of citizenship to their work within the classroom.
• NEW! Readings and Images. More than 20 readings and 25 new images have been added throughout the text that touch upon current and controversial issues. Students will learn an analytical understanding of issues while gaining argument strategies.
• NEW! Thematic Section in the Reader, “Privacy and Security,” examines issues such as terrorism, government surveillance, and individual liberty.
• NEW! Questions and Assignments are prompts that connect argument to the most current and controversial issues. New activities ask students to write in depth about digital argument, argument and citizenship.
• UPDATED! MLA and APA Citation Guides is up-to-date on both MLA and APA documentation guidelines, as well as strategies and examples for research on electronic sources.

Guides first- and second-year students through courses in argument and argument literature

• Reading, Critical Thinking and Writing are taught as integrated and interdependent processes throughout the text.
• Multimodal argument analysis is taught throughout the book but most extensively in chapter 8, which teaches students to apply the ideas they have learned about written argument to argument in general. Examples of multimodal argument are accompanied by questions for analysis and writing. Students also learn to create their own multimodal arguments.
• Digital argument analysis is presented in Chapter 1 and taught throughout the book. Students learn to apply the same ideas they have learned about written and visual argument to online and multimedia texts.
• Audience analysis covers the concepts of the discourse community, the familiar and unfamiliar audiences, and Chaim Perelman’s concept of the universal audience. Explanations of the elements and structure of argument include the Toulmin model of argument, the classical modes of appeal, the traditional categories of claims derived from classical stasis theory, and the rhetorical situation. Theory is integrated and translated into language that students can easily understand and apply.
• Productive invention strategies help students develop ideas for papers.
• Library and online research is presented as a creative activity that students can enjoy. Includes strategies for research and note taking along with criteria for evaluating sources, including those found online. Students are taught to document researched argument papers according to the most up-to-date MLA and APA styles.        
• Exercises, class projects, and writing assignments at the ends of the chapters invite individual, small group, and whole class participation with collaborative exercises, class projects invite students to participate in activities that require the understanding of argument. Assignments include writing assignments, an exploratory paper, the position paper, the Rogerian argument paper, the argument analysis paper, and the researched position paper. Examples are provided for each type of paper.         
• Summary Charts present the main points of argument in a handy format and integrate the reading and writing processes for argument by placing strategies for both side by side and showing interconnections.
• WHERE IS IT? A Quick Reference to Major Writing Assignments and Sample Papers by Students appears on the inside back cover of the book to help students quickly locate frequently visited pages.
• 88 readings in “The Rhetoric” and “The Reader” provide students with multiple perspectives on issues presented throughout the book. Includes ten argument papers written by students.
• “The Reader” is clustered under 7 ¿categories, that each examines an important issue or theme. The selections in each category examine this issue or theme from a variety of perspectives.

The book is organized into five parts and chapters are written so they can stand alone

• Part 1: Engaging with Argument introduces students to issues and characteristics of argument, written, visual, and digital, in Chapter 1; teaches them to analyze the rhetorical situation when reading, writing, and viewing arguments in Chapter 2; and provides specific strategies for integrating reading, viewing, critical thinking, and writing in Chapter 3. Assignments include the issue proposal, analysis of the rhetorical situation paper, the summary-response paper, the summary-analysis-response paper, and the exploratory paper.
• Part 2: Understanding the Nature of Argument identifies and explains the parts of an argument according to Stephen Toulmin’s model of argument in Chapter 4; explains the claims and purposes for argument in Chapter 5; presents proofs with clear examples and tests for validity in Chapter 6; identifies the fallacies, provides criteria for recognizing ethical argument, and teaches students to write ethical argument in Chapter 7; teaches students to apply what they have learned about argument to multimodal argument as they encounter it in all parts of their lives in Chapter 8; and explains Rogerian argument as an alternative to traditional argument and an effective method for building common ground in Chapter 9. Writing assignments include the Toulmin analysis, the position paper, Rogerian argument papers, and the argument analysis paper.
• Part 3: Writing a Researched Argument teaches students to write a claim, clarify purpose, analyze the audience, use various creative strategies for inventing ideas and gathering research materials in Chapter 11; to organize, write, revise, and prepare the final manuscript for a researched position paper in Chapter 12. Oral argument is taught at the end of Chapter 12 to help students preparing their research papers for oral presentation to the class. Methods for locating and using resource materials in the library and online are presented in Chapter 12. An Appendix to Chapter 12 provides full instruction for documenting sources using both MLA and APA styles.
• Part 4: Further Applications: Argument and Literature. Chapter 13 suggests ways to apply argument theory to reading and writing about literature. Assignments include writing papers about argument and literature.
• Part 5: The Reader is organized around the broad issues concerning families and personal relationships, technology, education and learning race, culture, and identity, the environment and sustainability privacy/security, immigration, and war and peace. Strategies and questions to help students explore issues and move from reading, viewing, and discussion to writing are also included.

Perspectives on Argument, 9th Edition is also available via Revel™, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience. Learn more.

Dynamic content designed for the way today's students read, think, and learn brings concepts to life

• Integrated within the narrative, interactives and videos empower students to engage with concepts and take an active role in learning. Revel™ uniquely presents media as an intrinsic part of course content, bringing the hallmark features of Pearson's bestselling titles to life. The Revel media interactives have been designed for quick completion, and videos are brief, so students stay focused and on task.

• Located throughout Revel, quizzing affords students opportunities to check their understanding at regular intervals before moving on.

• The Revel mobile app lets students read, practice, and study — anywhere, anytime, on any device. Content is available both online and offline, and the app syncs work across all registered devices automatically, giving students great flexibility to toggle between phone, tablet, and laptop as they move through their day. The app also lets students set assignment notifications to stay on top of all due dates.

• The Revel writing functionality, available in select courses, enables educators to integrate writing — among the best ways to foster and assess critical thinking — into the course without significantly impacting their grading burden. Self-paced Journaling Prompts throughout the narrative encourage students to express their thoughts without breaking stride in their reading. Assignable Shared Writing Activities direct students to share written responses with classmates, fostering peer discussion. Essays integrated directly within Revel allow instructors to assign the precise writing tasks they need for the course.

• Highlighting, note taking, and a glossary let students read and study however they like. Educators can add notes for students, too, including reminders or study tips.

Teaches students the skill of rational argument

• Analyzing multimodal argument discussion is a section in Chapter 8 that teaches students how to identify, analyze, and evaluate the multimodal elements (written, visual, graphic) that so many arguments include today. This instruction is carried throughout each chapter.
• Instruction on Informational Literacy in the research chapters include an integrated instruction model that teaches students to approach and understand the research process in terms of information literacy. Students learn how to evaluate content from different sources, assess context and credibility, and analyze how they enhance or affect argument success.
• Summary charts on multimodal argument and information literacy provide a clear description and analysis on multimodal argument and outlines the skills and concepts central to information literacy.
• Activity: Becoming a Classroom Citizen helps students apply the skills and principles of citizenship to their work within the classroom.
• Readings and Images. More than 20 readings and 25 new images have been added throughout that touch upon current and controversial issues. Students will learn an analytical understanding of issues while gaining argument strategies.
• Thematic Section in the Reader, “Privacy and Security,” examines issues such as terrorism, government surveillance, and individual liberty.
• Questions and Assignments are prompts that connect argument to the most current and controversial issues. New activities ask students to write in depth about digital argument, argument and citizenship.
• MLA and APA Citation Guides is up-to-date on both MLA and APA documentation guidelines, as well as strategies and examples for research on electronic sources.

Superior assignability and tracking tools help educators make sure students are completing their reading and understanding core concepts

• The Revel assignment calendar allows educators to indicate precisely which readings must be completed on which dates. This clear, detailed schedule helps students stay on task by eliminating any ambiguity as to which material will be covered during each class. When they understand exactly what is expected of them, students are better motivated to keep up.

• The Revel performance dashboard empowers educators to monitor class assignment completion as well as individual student achievement. Actionable information, such as points earned on quizzes and tests and time on task, helps educators intersect with their students in meaningful ways. For example, the trending column reveals whether students' grades are improving or declining, helping educators to identify students who might need help to stay on track.

• Integration of Revel and Blackboard Learn™ provides institutions, instructors, and students easy access to their Revel courses. With single sign-on, students can be ready to access the interactive blend of authors' narrative, media, and assessment on their first day. Flexible, on-demand grade synchronization capabilities allow educators to control exactly which Revel grades should be transferred to the Blackboard Gradebook.