Everything's an Argument with Readings

The book has great examples for argumentative writing and breaks down the different styles of argumentative writing.

We didn't use this book that much, but what we did use of it, I liked.

As a Freshman Composition Teacher, I found it hard to explain the idea of argument using mainstream texts such as Axlerod and Cooper's St. Martin's Guide. The second edition of Everything's an Argument provides an accessible way to illustrate classical rhetorical ideas to the modern student. Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz and Walters provide a readable breakdown or Aristotle's concepts of Ethos, Pathos, Logos and Audience. Toulmin is also used nicely. The second edition also provides readings which are contemporary in nature and on intersting topics. There are the traditional readings on Title IX, Language and Identity, Free Speech and Euthanasia for the more conservative course instructors. In addition, this book ellaborates on topics which I will be excited to introduce into my course next semester: Technology's involvement in Conception and Birth, Intellectual Property rights, Genetics and Privacy Loss. While the content of the book is exactly what I've been searching for, I find the physical book design also appealing. The cover design and visual elements will demand attention from my students. While the compact paperback design will not break anyone's back, it has me a little concerned about how well it will hold up over a semester. This text should be a definite consideration for anyone who has been wondering for years how to work audience, argument, critical thinking and style into their course. My favorite part is the chapter on tropes and schemes.

After teaching a college-level argumentation course for eight years from a traditional text, student comments and my own motivations led me to search for a text that focused on the variety of forms of argument we hear daily. In "everything's an argument" I found this text. Teaching the argumentation around the question "Is everything and argument?" is a fresh idea that promotes our constant critical thinking as we look for arguments around us. This book provides a variety of excellent examples to illustrate how argument does appear in virtually every aspect of our lives. Exercises at the back of the chapters lead students to analyze arguments they find. I am adopting this text, with some supplementary readings on debate and dialogue, for my Fall 2000 argumentation course. Thank you for a practical, easy-to-read text.