Classical Argumentative Essay

Classical Argument When we speak of classical argument, we are not speaking of famous speeches, though many of history s most memorable and persuasive speeches have partaken of classical form.. Obviously, in order to engage these arguments successfully, I have to know what they are, which means I have to read the arguments of my major opponents on their merits, treating them seriously, and not merely ridiculing them or seeking to build a straw man I can thrash more easily than the real arguments. Remember I compared the partition to a road map Well, who wants a road map that just brings the driver right back to where he or she started No, your peroration should, above all, leave the reader with the strong impression that something has been proven, that something is finished, and that he or she hasn t wasted the time it took to read your argument.. Especially in the case of arguments of policy, the call to action seeks to take the essay beyond mere words on a page and transform it into a reason for doing something, whether that means voting for a particular candidate, speaking out against a program or practice, or just going out and getting more exercise.. If I argue against metal detectors at a local school, then conclude my essay by predicting that such measures will lead to a fascist state and the end of the American family, my readers will probably suspect me of being off my medication, and they re less likely to follow my advice than if I d played my cards a little closer to my vest (perhaps by describing the psychological harm done to a generation of school kids who think their social fears and mistrusts them).