Reading Response #1

In the article “Argument as Conversation” by Stuart Greene he attempts to explain to the audience the differences and similarities of a scholarly discussion and an argument. He discusses the principles of how issues and situations contribute to framing a disagreement in a different way.

Before You Read

1.  I would define an arugment as two people disagreeing on a topic in a angerly manner. Arguments can be thought of as differences, so in everyday conversation you will find that not everyone has the same view as you. In an academic setting I would refer to it as a debate. I think the difference is being loud and angry or just having a debate about different views.

QD

2. Greene quotes Kenneth Burke yet again to stress the importance that every argument is connected to another. Whether or not you just entered the debate no one has the knowledge to retrace all the actual steps of the discussion at hand, because it has been present long before any had got there. The extended metaphor about his passage is that no matter what time you enter the conversation you will always have to exit while still so heated. When writing an argument you can position yourself in many other different ways. This depends on three things, which arguments you share from previous occasions, which arguments you want to argue against, and what new information or personal opinions you will bring to the table. You can challenge it by forming important issues that haven given enough thought.

3. Framing is a strategy to help include different views in advancing an argument. A metaphor associated with framing is a camera lens. The way a photographer focuses on one piece of a picture with the lens rather than another is the same as framing as a writer. Framing is a strategy writer’s use in developing arguments. It forces you to name your position, offer a definition and description of the foundation of which your argument develops, specifies your argument, and helps organize thoughts.

AE

2. Greene’s article represents a conversation itself with the readers. He frames his argument by bringing different and conflicting voices to light. I believe in his article he has practiced what he preaches about "argument as conversation" by presenting the many different ideas of writing through his writing.

I personally thought that the passage on “Argument as Conversation” was very interesting to me. I find it very hard to decipher deeper meanings of arguments and never seen it in such ways presented in the text. I think having a broader view on argument could be helpful to me in the future, to be more open minded. I think these ideas will help me be more informed in future debates.