The section takes up three issues: (1) An argument often says as much about the author as it does about the issue. (2) Some claims are so garbled that they cannot be meaningfully argued. And (3) an argument isn't going to be persuasive if it isn't read. The essays and pictorial arguments in the section emphasize the third point. Students should see that if they don't write effectively, they can't persuade anybody. And an important feature of effective writing is readability.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

With the other examples,
problems arise concerning the definition of “equal,” “higher,” “better,”
“wrong,” “pure in heart,” “slump,” etc.
In discussion, you can point out several facts:
1) The sidewalks in Mexico City are higher than the Empire State
Building.
2) “Blessed are the pure of heart” really means “blessed are the
single-minded.”
3) Since matter cannot be created or destroyed, a diamond is forever.
And so is everything else.
4) The statement about solving the energy shortage by legalizing
marijuana came from a student. He argued, “If grass were legal,
we wouldn't have to drive all over to get it.”
5) How do you define art? Under what definition of “art” would you
fit “body tattooing”?