Definitional Argument

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Definitional Argument

• These arguments are particularly powerful in that
  they help determine what something or someone is.
  Thus, they can result in inclusion or exclusion.
• They help us recognize that classifications
  change over time and are the result of cultural,
  social, and political forces.
• Definitions often serve group agendas while
  ignoring or attempting to silence others.

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Definitional Argumentation

• We rely on definition for successful, efficient
  communication.
• As you have experienced with the Fact Paper, our
  ability to make an argument is limited when we
  cannot appeal to values.
• Contrary to the belief that values diminish the
  validity of an argument by rendering it mere
  opinion, values are a necessary part of the
  argument.
• Indeed, they are the very heart of an argument.
• Thus, evaluative terms are notoriously difficult
  to define.

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Sample Questions For Potential Theses

• Questions related to genus
• Is assisting in suicide a crime?
• Is NASCAR a sport?
• Is rap poetry?
• What is an X insert your own choice here

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• Questions related to species
• Is marijuana a relatively harmless drug or a
  dangerous, addictive one?
• Is Saudi Arabia an ally or an opponent of the
  USA?
• Is TVs Survivor a reality show or a game show?
• Is X a Y or a Z Insert your own topic

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• Questions related to conditions
• Should a woman be held to the same physical
  requirements as a man in order to join the
  military?
• Should everyone pay the same percentage of their
  income taxes regardless of their income?
• Are high scores on the SATs a fair condition for
  entrance into universities?
• Must X occur in order for Y? Insert your topic

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• Questions related to the fulfillment of
  conditions
• Should academic scholarships count as taxable
  income?
• Should nontraditional educated experiences, such
  as semesters abroad and internships, count for
  college credit?
• Should X be counted as Y for the purposes of Z?
  Insert your topic

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In summary, keep in mind that you can approach an
argument of definition by

• Formulating a definition (What is X?)
  Terrorism is any non-wartime act of violence
  undertaken for political gain.
• Challenging a definition (Y is not X.)
  Violence undertaken as part of a revolt against
  an oppressive regime is not terrorism.
• Trying to determine if something fits an accepted
  definition (Y is/is not X) The Irish
  Republican Army is/is not a terrorist
  organization.

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• Questions related to the membership in a named
  class
• Is any recent president in a class with
  Washington, Lincoln, and/or Roosevelt?
• Is any writer today in a class with Shakespeare,
  Janet Austen, and/or John Steinbeck?
• Is any actor today in a class with Steward,
  Gable, Hepburn, or Taylor?
• Does X deserve the status of Y? Insert your
  topic

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• To establish what is meant by an evaluative word,
  we must rely on precedent and context.
• We can refer to authoritative sources such as
  dictionaries, but we must also take into account
  common usage and intent.
• In the case of words like hot, cold, short, or
  tall, there may be specific temperatures or
  heights that we can all agree define that term.
• There is no such widespread agreement for other
  evaluative terms, especially cultural values.

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• Cultural values are key terms to which we appeal
  over and again when deciding a course of action.
• They are values that most people would agree are
  fundamental to our society, even if we cannot
  agree on their definition.
• Examples of cultural values are freedom,
  happiness, efficiency, maturity, ingenuity,
  independence, health, security, life,
  criminality, responsibility, and sustainability.
• This assignment is designed to give you practice
  in another technique of persuasive writing, that
  of defining a cultural value or other key term in
  such a way that seems credible to your reader.
• Your ability to credibly define your terms will
  help you to contribute to a range of public
  discourse in influential ways.

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Directive

• Identify an instance in a document or broadcast
  in which the meaning an author assigns to a word
  is debatable.
• You are not looking for an instance in which
  someone uses a term incorrectly.
• Rather, you are looking for an instance in which
  a person applies a word to an object or
  situation, and you disagree with the persons
  evaluation of that object or situation.

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• When you have your example, then answer for
  yourself the following questions
• Why is it important to dispute the meaning of
  that word?
• Your answer to that questions will help in
  determining your thesis/or claim.

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• Begin your essay by summarizing your example,
  presenting your thesis, and previewing your
  definition of the disputed word.
• Following your introduction, present your
  research on your word that supports the usage for
  which you advocate.
• There are a number of ways to establish a
  precedent for a preferred meaning of a term,
  including reference to a dictionary, but not
  automatically to Websters Dictionary.

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Here are 3 types of strategiesStrategy 1

• You can trace the etymology of your word in the
  Oxford English Dictionary at http//catalog.sjli
  brary.org/recordb1879016S1
• Other dictionaries
• Legal http//www.legal-dictionary.org/
• Philosophical http//www.philosophypages.com/dy/i
  ndex.htm
• Medical http//www.online-medical-dictionary.org
  /
• Slang http//www.urbandictionary.com/

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Strategy 2

• Another way to establish the meaning of a term is
  to define related terms. For instance, if you
  are establishing the meaning of maturity, you may
  also want to define experienced, responsible, and
  established.

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Strategy 3

• A third strategy to establish the meaning of a
  term is to show how others use it, even if that
  usage is common only to a certain group of
  people. To do this, you will need to compile
  examples of others using your word in the manner
  for which you advocate. This research might
  include reference to the terms equivalent in
  other languages.
• Community, democracy, intelligence, sin,
  redemption, God, criminality, sex, morality,
  love, etc.

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• After establishing a precedent for your preferred
  meaning, explain the difference it will make to
  use that meaning over another.
• You will want to provide specific examples of how
  the words meaning can or will influence
  decision-making and social action.
• Remember your purpose Give a compelling
  thesis/argument that gives reason for disputing
  the meaning of a word.

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Other items to consider

• Who is your specific audience?
• What are the counter-arguments to your proposed
  definition?
• In other words, anticipate oppositional stances.
• How would you refute those stances?