Strategies for Argumentative Writing
Conciliation
Bring people together with tone of voice and with appeals such as “let’s work together.” Remind us what we all agree on. Point out when the other side is just trying to be divisive. Focus on creating the positive rather than fighting against the negative (Mother Theresa). Remember the honey-vinegar principle.
Ethos
Establish your credibility as a writer. How do you know these things? What’s your experience? Point out others who agree with you. Use the techniques of argument/persuasion honestly and sincerely and conscientiously.
Pathos
Evoke the reader’s emotion only when relevant and always with a light touch. Avoid using emotion to manipulate. Point out when the other side is using emotion to manipulate or arguing from emotional knee-jerk responses.
Logos
Appeal to your reader’s mind with logic. Explain your position and your reasons. Avoid logical fallacies. Point out the other side’s logical fallacies. Address the other side’s valid concerns fairly. Analyze the issue to see what the underlying problems are. Discuss distinctions/definitions, consequences, causes, comparisons/contrasts/analogies, solutions. Use statistics and other information,