1. Who is your specific audience? The other parents whose kids are suffering from ADHD. Also other adults who have ADHD. 2. Why did you choose them? Because we can persuade them, they can change their mind. Also because they will take a better decision for themselves. 3. How will your audience affect the argument you intend to present? They have to able to understand our paper-we do not need to explain the treatment. We have to present logical alternatives and reasons. The tone must not sound like Monroe Anderson (uneducated), we cannot talk above their heads, we must explain big terms; gentle. We must also provide good and more information about our topic and also the treatment so they can make their own decision.
4. Which fallacies will you need to focus on keeping from your argument? Why are these (individually) important to consider in your argument? Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc: The treatment can also cause side effects.
Hasty Generalization: Some parents and other adults are using wrong treatment or over dose of a treatment just because they think it is right or just because others are doing it. False Analogy: If some people are using Ritalin that means its good and so people are using it. Either-or Reasoning: We chose this cure because this is the best and it works out. Ad Hominem (Against the Person): Some doctors who are distributing Ritalin do not give it in public and do not give their names. Appeals to False Authority and Bandwagon Appeals: Following some one doing this is wrong.
Non Sequitur (”It does not follow”): Because of this treatment many kids might have long term side-effects later.
Circular Reasoning: We did this because we love our kids.Red Herring: Many parents use Ritalin just because they think it’s good or just because someone told them that it’s good. So that’s why they are using it. Slippery Slope: Ten years from now these kids will have a lot of problems and other long-term side effects. Equivocating: Many parents are being mislead. Failing to accept the burden of proof: They never looked into other options. Over reliance on authority: Other parents advise. Oversimplification: the pain or problems the kids will go through later.
April 3, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Choose one of the two groups as your audience; do you want to address the paper to parents of children with ADHD who have specific concerns about their children or to the adults with ADHD who have specific concerns for themselves?