Argument. Arguing. Arguers. Variations but still the same word, but what does a word really mean? Does it or can it have more than one meaning? Apparently so, as I learned after reading the chapter, but beforehand argument really only had one meaning to me. Argument meant that there was a disagreement of some sorts between two or more people, and that argument had opposing sides. After the reading however it became clearer that argument is more than a dispute, it’s about expressing yourself and what you believe in. With that expression, argument can be more than spoken word. It can be written, drawn, and even (but not limited to) be played musically. Although while having your “argument” your audience may mildly agree or disagree with you, be neutral, hostile, or be unfamiliar. Despite the multiple types of audiences you might have a good arguer should “think of your relationship with your audience as if it were plotted on a sliding scale.” (Wood, 36) This means that the arguer should be prepared for the unknown, the audience he or she will have, and be ready to try to persuade that audience to change their original view points on the “argument.” Nevertheless an inability to change an audience’s stance on a particular topic does not make an arguer bad. Instead it should make that arguer re-evaluate their approach to their “argument” and look for a different path while expressing their point to an audience.
While perusing the covers of the magazine choices I noticed that O, The Oprah Magazine had an article titled “100 Things That Are (ACTUALLY) Getting Better”, and in today’s times things that are “better” or just good in general are a breath of fresh air. The 100 things that are getting better may not be the most important or may even be a little superficial but good things are good things no matter what they may be. Admittedly the tiny quote under the magazine’s title, “Live Your Best Life” got to me as well, being that inspirational quotes and stories are always appreciated (at least to me).
Works Citied:
1. Wood, Nancy. Essentials of Argument. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.
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I really like how you are already analyzing "O." 100 things that actually are getting better is an argument, right? It is a choice by someone somewhere about what counts as better. This is gonna be fun to analyze and I look forward to reading about it.
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