ACJ Review: The Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader

Volume 7, Issue 2004

The Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader 7^th ed.

Rottenberg, Annette T.

August 2003
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's
756 pages
Paper, 0-312-39777-1, US $54.70

Reviewed by: Mark J.Porrovecchio, University of Pittsburgh
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Though marketed as an English Composition book, the seventh edition of Rottenberg’s text is well suited to communication courses in written or oral argumentation and debate. The book’s comprehensive and engaging approach supports a diversity of instructional approaches, while providing students with a solid foundation in theory and application. The updated version has significantly overhauled supplemental materials and uses a new two-color organization scheme that more clearly highlights materials within the chapters.

The text, which is comprised of nineteen chapters, is broken into four parts. Part one, The Structure of Argument, develops the major concepts of argument as articulated by Toulmin. Key terms such as claims, support, warrants, and fallacies, are each given a full chapter of coverage. These mechanics are accented by way of easy to understand examples. Throughout these sections, there are sample readings, references to online resources, and exercise questions. A specific strength of this text is that many of the sample readings—covering topics ranging from affirmative action, to euthanasia, to single-sex education—are annotated so as to focus student attention on the major themes being covered in a specific chapter.

Part two, Writing, Researching, and Presenting Arguments, provides a concise overview of the steps necessary to complete the process of analyzing, creating, and delivering an argument. In addition, the second part contains a succinct synopsis of APA and MLA documentation styles, as well as sample papers showing them in use. For instructors worried about the extra cost of providing supplemental style guides, this section alone is a useful instructional tool.

Part three, Multiple Viewpoints, presents eight controversial topics. New to this addition are: The Family, Reparations for Slavery, and Responding to Terror. Continuing from the tradition of previous versions of the text, Rottenberg surveys a wide variety of viewpoints, making sure that the topics aren’t presented in a simplistically dichotomous way. Another revision in this edition is the prompt question before each reading designed to engage the student more critically in the text. The end of each section still provides students with online resources they can review for more information on the topics. This is particularly useful as more and more students become, for good and ill, reliant on the Internet. Rottenberg directs students to credible online sources that can serve as starting points for their online research.

Part four, Classic Arguments, provides a broad spectrum of important works ranging from Plato’s Crito to Margaret Mead’s “Warfare: An Invention—Not a Biological Necessity.” These arguments are each followed by questions directed towards discussion exercises and writing assignments. They can be combined with chapter assignments or be used as a starting point for historical argument analysis.

The Appendix, Arguing About Literature, is the one section of the text that is least likely to work well with communication courses. It presents an overview of the elements of fiction, drama, and poetry. There is a section for the novice student on cultural content, as well as an overview for determining how and what to write. The appendix also provides sample artifacts as well as a student response essay to William Carlos Williams’ “The Use of Force.”

The Elements of Argument stands as a substantial resource for argument and debate instructors. Though not designed for a communication classroom, this text is worthy of a serious look. Rottenberg has successfully built upon the strengths of previous editions, ensuring that instructors are able to provide students with theory that is backed up by practical avenues of application.

As a final note, instructors wanting more control over argument and debate topics are urged to review the recently revised fourth edition of Rottenberg’s The Structure of Argument. It contains all of sections one and two, an abbreviated appendix-version of the classic arguments, and the literature appendix.