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Once you have decided on the basic arguments you are going to make and on their logical order, you need to decide how to put them together to form a case. There are at least five major strategies for linking arguments together and building a case: (a) simple problem-solution, (b) criteria, (c) chain of reasoning, (d) process of elimination, and (e) improving the system. Each of these has its own strengths and weaknesses and is appropriate only for certain situations. Various combinations of these case types are possible as well. | ||
Simple Problem-Solution In a simple problem-solution case, you describe a problem and propose a solution without explicitly stating the criteria for judgment or evaluating any competing solutions. This is an easy type of case to build, and it is easy for an audience to understand. For that reason, it is especially appropriate with an audience that is uninformed about a subject. On the other hand, it can easily be attacked by well-informed opponents. | ||
Criteria A case built on criteria explicitly emphasizes the basis, or criteria, by which something is evaluated. Its success depends crucially on the acceptance of the criteria by the audience as being both (1) correct and (2) complete. If your criteria are found acceptable, then you have only to show that your proposed solution meets those criteria in order to win your case. But if your criteria are seen as being either incorrect or incomplete, the evidence you provide as support will be less relevant and therefore less persuasive. Thus, this approach is most effective in situations where you are confident that your criteria are complete and that your audience subscribes to them. If these requirements are satisfied, the case can be effective even with audiences that might initially disagree with your proposed solution. Indeed, international negotiators have found that in cases where two sides have taken strongly opposing positions, they can make progress toward a compromise only if they first concentrate on establishing mutually agreed-upon criteria. | ||
Chain of Reasoning In a chain of reasoning case, you try to link arguments together in a sequence of logical steps. It is generally a very deliberate and analytical form of argumentation, and for that reason you need a patient, dedicated audience. Usually, a chain of reasoning case works inductively, proceeding from more acceptable claims and details to more controversial ones. Since it "breaks the news" slowly, it is especially effective with a hostile or skeptical audience. But, like the criteria case, it is very committing: a single misstep in the chain of reasoning can cause it to fail. The chain of reasoning approach is often used in support of other cases, such as the experimental research type of case discussed below. | ||
Process of Elimination In a process of elimination case, you present a number of possible solutions and gradually eliminate all but one. It is a very effective form of argumentation in situations where the possible solutions are limited and well known. It combines naturally with the criteria case: you first establish the relevant criteria for selection, and then list the alternative solutions; then you test each of the solutions against the criteria, eliminating all but one. The process of elimination case works well when your audience concurs with your choice of possible solutions. On the other hand, if you fail to consider all possible solutions, the argument can quickly fall apart. Certain kinds of critical readers are particularly adept at coming up with "rival hypotheses" and undermining a process of elimination case. | ||
Improving the System Sometimes you may want to argue for some change from the status quo, not because there is a particular problem but because you think a good situation can be made even better. For example, let's say your college already has pretty good public relations with the surrounding community, but you think they could be even better if the college would sponsor a community-wide cleanup campaign. In such a situation, you would be smart to place your idea within the context of the college's larger public relations effort. Instead of treating it as a problem, you would treat it as an opportunity. A case based on improving the system is most effective with an audience that supports the current system and does not want to change it in any major way. [Adapted from Olsen, L. and Huckin,
T., Technical Writing | ||
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