Blog #2

1)
I always considered myself to be a good arguer because of the fact that I wont give up until my point on the subject is understood. I always felt that in order to win an argument you did not have to be right but to achieve the approval of others and make them believe that what you are proclaiming is the truth. Most of the arguments I become involved in tend to become a screaming match because of peoples and my own stubbornness. As I read the chapter in the book I came to realize that an argument is much more in depth then once believed. In the book wood says, “A rhetorical situation has five elements. We arrange the elements in order from the acronym TRACE,”(27). TRACE simply stands for: text, reader, author, constraints, and exigence. An argument must have common ground, which is very much understandable because without it there would be no argument.

As I finished the chapter I have learned that every argument is different and not because of the subjects changing but the audience is changing. One of my favorite movies is Thank You for Smoking because the whole movie is about a lobbyist who can argue and win one of the hardest topics to win which is smoking in not unhealthy for a person. Everyone knows smoking is bad for you but was great about it is that he shows how to turn the argument around on someone. That was what I thought an argument is supposed to be. In the book I’ve learned that the most important thing is to come to an agreement and be able to see but sides of every story.

2)
I choose the magazine Wired because it is all about technology in the new age. I consider myself to be on top of the changes in technology and really enjoy new gadgets and toys. I assumed that the magazine will show me even newer technology then I am aware of and for this reason I choose Wired.

Essential of Argument By Nancy V. Wood