Arguments of Fact

The earth orbits the sun.

When facts become argumentsEndangered Species – does the Endangered Species Act save

wild animals?

HealthIs it healthy to eat organic food? Fatty foods?

Energy ProductionIs offshore drilling safe? Can we rely on wind and solar power to solve our

energy needs?

Factual arguments can challenge our beliefs and lifestyles

• Talking on a cell phone while driving is just like listening to the car radio, right?

Richard III – benign or despotic?

Factual arguments counterbalance narrow or mistaken reports

• http://factcheck.org/

• http://online.wsj.com/article/Corrections.html

Arguments of Policy

• http://mclaughlinsclass.blogspot.com/2008/02/persuasive-speech-ideas.html

Your goal might be:• To defend an existing policy• To modify an existing policy• To replace a policy • To create a policy where none exists

Arguments of values

• Good or bad?• Desirable or undesirable?

• Example: The penny is a costly and irrelevant form of currency that needs to be eliminated.

Selecting an issue

• Choose a topic of interest to you but avoid one that is common knowledge or has been exhaustively discussed already (unless you plan to add a new perspective).

• http://www.srvc.net/speech/handouts/sp120_persuasive_topis.htm