Rogerian Argument Assignment
Although they argue that it should not be reduced to a mechanical formula, Young, Becker and Pike outline four basic stages through which a Rogerian argument should pass:
1. An introduction to the problem and a demonstration that the opponent’s position is understood.
2. A statement of the contexts in which the opponent’s position(s) may be valid.
3. A statement of the writer’s position, including the contexts in which it is valid, including your delayed thesis.
4. A statement of how the opponent’s position would benefit if he were to adopt elements of the writer’s position. If the writer can show that the positions complement each other, that each supplies what the other lacks, so much the better.
Not every version of Rogerian rhetoric emphasises exactly these stages, but the common denominator among all versions is that the writer must state the opposing viewpoint first, before stating her own, and do so honestly, with understanding, and without either overt or covert evaluation.
ASSIGNMENT:
Choose an argumentative issue/topic within your discipline (field of study). If you want, you may choose a topic that works in conjunction with the research you have conducted for the Literature Review (in this way we can think of the Lit. Review in some ways as a preliminary work up to the Rogerian Essay).
Write an essay in support of your controversial/arguable thesis, using Rogerian Argument/Rhetoric as the model for the essay. This means that you will assume your audience to be in opposition to your thesis, and that your end goal is to reach some sort of common ground, to solve the “issue” by finding a solution that in some way accommodates both sides.
Note*
The key thing to watch out for when writing the Rogerian is your language. You must be careful not to create hostility between you and the opponent. You also have to come across as sincere about the points that you can agree on. Where the traditional argument is aggressive. In that mode you are trying to overwhelm your opponent with research and the appeals, in the Rogerian you are conciliatory, negotiating. You are trying to find some shared ground upon which to build a solution.
The Essay – Nuts & Bolts: Double spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, 4 pages minimum (it may certainly be longer than that, but anything shorter will not have the depth of reasoning appropriate for this essay). You will use and cite a minimum of 5-8 sources in your paper (you may use more as you see fit), according to APA style and include a references page for the sources used in your paper.
