The Creative Argument: Rhetoric in the Real World, with Readings

(Paperback)

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Description

The Creative Argument sets itself apart from its competitors by presenting a series of compelling works of literary nonfiction that challenge what students think they know about arguments. Each chapter begins with an engaging argument from a work of nonfiction, followed by an in-depth yet accessible analysis of a key aspect of argumentation. Suitable for both courses in argument and first-year writing, the principles and strategies outlined in the text help students become more creative and critical as rhetoricians, both inside the classroom and out.A PDF-only teacher's guide is available for qualified instructors. Visit www.hackettpublishing.com to request the teacher's guide.

Reviews

"For faculty, The Creative Argument's careful organization provides a blueprint for the semester or supplemental material for generating lectures and learning activities. For students, the efficient chapters, thoughtful readings, and refined explanations make reading and learning nearly effortless. The Creative Argument is the best way to get students to quickly understand how and why argument is paramount for personal and societal growth. This is the book to excite students about writing, research, and argument."
Tyrell Stewart-Harris, Cornell University
". . . not only provides timely, provocative readings, it offers students and their teachers flexible, non-template heuristics for argumentation that are anything but generic. I can imagine using this book in a variety of contexts but believe it would be particularly helpful for new instructors still trying to find their rhythm in the classroom. It illustrates that rather than a finite set of skills that are rote or drill-based, argumentation is a flexible, creative art."
Kelly Kinney, University of Wyoming
"Sound, sophisticated, clear, and comprehensive. Concepts and key terms are defined clearly and discussed cogently in every chapter. The selected sample arguments that head each chapter, both historical and contemporary, are in every case striking and appropriate examples of relevant terms and concepts taken up in the chapter. The author's tone/voice/style throughout is engagingdown-to-earth, familiar, transparent. His style goes a long way to making the complex subject matter as palatable as can be.
Girshin offers a deep dive into nearly every relevant dimension of contemporary rhetoric, introducing as he goes a substantial rhetorical vocabulary, drawn mainly from modern and contemporary thinkers (such as Toulmin). In this respect, the scope of the text is impressive and would likely be of interest to both undergraduate and graduate students of rhetoric; theres no dumbing down, no didacticism, in style or substance, which is quite refreshing.
Tom Kerr, Ithaca College

Author Bio

Thomas Girshin is Associate Professor of English and Director of the Writing Intensive Program at California State University, San Bernardino.