"Writing an Argument"

In Ballenger's "Writing an Argument," he discusses how to create a decent, logical argument, and the difference between good and bad arguments. Part of what Ballenger talks about is how there are not just two sides, black and white, to an argument. There can be many different "sides" to any argument, and in order to find this out you need to ask questions and refrain from judging from the start. Ballenger cites, "To argue well is an act of imagination, not a picking of sides" (207). He continues on to say that when creating an argument, one needs to look at all sides from different perspectives, keeping an open mind the whole time. I feel this is highly valuable information for anyone making a point for an argument. If you don't have all of the information, you are ill equipped for making any kind of well-formed point, claim, etc. Ballenger also tells us in this work that being able to make a good argument is something that everyone should know how to do, regardless of what they are planning for a career. I agree with this because, as Ballenger says, you never know when you'll need to haggle the price on that car you want.
Ballenger goes on, saying,"The argument essay is also and invitation to consider how you feel about local issues...that might have some effect on how you live" (209). I cannot agree more with this statement. My particular argument is the issue with the cochlear implants, and it may, someday, have an effect on me, simply because no one knows whether or not they will go deaf, or have a family member who loses their hearing, or maybe even one of their children will be born deaf. Interesting thing to think about, personally.
A few of the other things that Ballenger touches on are things to avoid- information that anyone wanting to make a good argument should think about. One thing that you need to avoid is too little information- never a good thing for any research project, argument or no. Ballenger also cautions against the following: generalizing, attacking the other person/people involved, citing "experts", ignoring the information given by the opponent, false analogies, false cause, popularity polls, "slippery slope", either/or arguments, and circular arguments. These are good things to keep in mind while arguing in any form, simply so that you don't sound like a complete dolt. They are also good things to keep in mind because when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, you want your argument to stand up for itself without you needing to be there to explain your way out of that hole.