Argument

Everywhere we look, we are faced with people, organizations, and groups making an argument.  We have looked at how these arguments are made and the techniques employed to persuade us.  We know that now with the election coming to a close, the debates, adds, and mailings are speaking the loudest.  This begs the question: what other mediums are trying to persuade us through their arguments?   

I would like you to pick one of the three songs presented here.  Listen to one and then, determine what argument is being made.  Once you have identified the argument, explain how they are trying to persuade us: facts and stats, author credibility, or emotional appeals.  Reference a specific part of the song lyrics or video that has helped you to come to this understanding.

Here are the three song links:
Cage the Elephant
Martina McBride
Common ft and Will.i.am

Happy listening!

A good story should...

We have all grown up with stories.  We tell stories at the dinner table, while driving in the car, or while walking with family members.  In my family, we are story tellers.  My mom would tell me stories while she brushed my hair or when we sat on the front porch.  These stories are what allow our family roots to grow together tangling each of us up in a common history.

As a little girl, we would visit my grandparents in Painesville.  Our ritual was to walk through the cemetery talking to each other, reading the headstones, and recalling other family histories.  One story that we loved to recount was the story of the man whose headstone read "not guilty." Additionally, we loved to hear about how my parents met, and how my dad lost his wallet in the Grand River while trying to impress my mother.  Stories help us make sense of the world.  They allow us to come to conclusion as to what is true and what is not true.  I want you to look at your list of things said to be true. 

Tell the story that helped you come to know this.  On my list, I wrote, "The more we let others into our lives, the richer we become in knowledge."  I believe this completely. Here is my story:

I have always been shy.  Social scenes make me nervous.  I am not good with letting others in my life nor am I good at sharing.  My husband, however, has always had a very strong group of friends.  When we started dating, I was welcomed into this very close-knit group whose history was so rich.  Every story told had all participating.  After twenty years, this group is still very close.  Our children are growing up together and we are there for each other even through the darkest of times.  Our futures have been written through our past relationships.  It took me a while to let my guard down and become  immersed in this group.  I am glad I did.  I have become a richer person through our friendships.  I know that should I ever need anyone of them all I have to do is ask.  They would be there for my family, my husband or just for me.  In letting them in, they have made my life richer. 

Take one item from your list of things known to be true and tell the story that helps to make it true. Your story must be school appropriate and true:)  A paragraph is sufficient.  Happy story telling!