Practical Argumentation | Page 7

easy to establish one idea satisfactorily; but when several ideas must be
upheld and defended, the work is enormous and sometimes open to the
charge of inconsistency. Moreover, the principle of Unity demands that
a composition be about a single topic. The proposition, "_Resolved_,
That Aaron Burr was guilty of murder and should have been put to
death," involves two debatable subjects, each of which is of sufficient
importance to stand in a proposition by itself: "Was Burr guilty of
murder?" and "Should a murderer be punished by death?" The error of
combining in a compound sentence several distinct subjects for debate
is generally detected with ease; but when the error of combination
exists in a simple sentence, it is not always so obvious. In the case of
the subject, "_Resolved_, That foreign immigrants have been unjustly
treated by the United States," there are, as the same privileges have not
been granted all immigrants, several debatable questions. One who
attempts to argue on this subject must take into consideration the
treatment that has been accorded the Chinese, the English, the Germans,
the Italians, the paupers, the well-to-do, and others. In one case the
laws may be palpably unfair, and in another case, all that can be
desired.
When two ideas, however, are very closely related and are dependent
upon each other for interpretation and support, they may and
sometimes should be combined in the same proposition. For example,
"Education should be compulsory to the age of sixteen," involves two
main issues: "Education should be compulsory," and "The age of
sixteen is the proper limit." But in this case the one who advocates
compulsory education is under obligation to explain some definite
system, and this explanation must include the establishing of some
limit. To name this limit in the proposition renders the argument clearer

to an audience and fairer to an opponent. For similar reasons, the
proposition, "The Federal government should own and operate the
railroads in the United States," cannot be condemned on the ground that
it is a proposition with more than one main issue.
Propositions, then, adapted to class room argument, are those which
give rise to a conflict of opinion; which contain a definite and
unmistakable thought; which are specific and sufficiently restricted to
admit of thorough treatment; and which contain a single idea.
Furthermore, the student will do well to select subjects that are as
nearly as possible like the problems which statesmen, educators,
professional and business men meet in practical life. He should try to
remove his argument as far as he can from the realm of pure academic
exercise, and endeavor to gain some insight into the issues that are now
confronting the makers of modern civilization. The student who takes
this work seriously is sure to gain information, form opinions, and
acquire habits of thought that will be of great practical value to him
when he takes his place as a man among men.
EXERCISES
A. Narrow each of the following terms into good, debatable
propositions:--
Election of Senators; Chinese exclusion; woman suffrage; temperance;
compulsory manual training; the honor system; compulsory education;
vivisection; reciprocity; an enlarged army; the educational voting test;
strikes; bounties and subsidies; capital punishment; Hamlet's insanity;
municipal government; permanent copyright; athletics; civil service;
military training; Panama canal; jury system; foreign acquisitions;
Monroe Doctrine; forest reserves; protective tariff.
B. Criticise the following propositions:--
1. The existence and attributes of the Supreme Being can be proved
without the aid of divine revelation.

2. More money is spent for luxuries than for necessities.
3. The growth of large fortunes should be checked by a graduated
income tax and an inheritance tax.
4. The Monroe Doctrine should receive the support of every American.
5. Hard work is the secret of success.
6. Law is a better profession than medicine.
7. College football should be abolished and lacrosse adopted in its
place.
8. Newspapers exert a powerful influence on modern politics.
9. The United States postal system should be under the control of the
Federal government.
10. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
11. Immigration is detrimental to the United States.
12. President ----'s foreign policy should be upheld.
13. Canada should not be annexed to the United States.
14. The cruel banishment of the Acadians was unjust.
15. Beauty has practical uses.
16. The democratic policy of government would be for the best
interests of the Philippines.
17. Dickens' novels, which are superior to Scott's, effected reforms.
18. An unconstitutional income tax should not be levied.
19. A majority vote of a jury should not convict or acquit.

20. Edison is a great inventor.


CHAPTER III
THE INTRODUCTION--PERSUASION
Every complete argument consists of three parts: introduction,
discussion, and conclusion. Each of these divisions has definite and
specific duties to perform. The