The webinar this week introduced us to the the Rogerian arrangement of arguments. This lesson will include a little review of Rogerian arrangement and then in the next lesson, you will put the Rogerian arrangement into action.
Watch the video below for a brief overview of Rogerian arranged arguments. Then move onto the content below.
To make it clear, the other two arrangements we cover emphasize a "I win, you lose" solution. A Rogerian arrangement emphasizes a "You win, I win" solution, making it good if you want to ethos and pathos appeals a lot in your argument.
It's important to note that you still make a claim in Rogerian arrangements, support it with evidence, and provide warrant. These terms may not be included flat out, but as was discussed in previous lessons, you always make a claim in any argument and support it. As you look at the outline below, consider where claim, data, and warrant would be in a Rogerian argument.
Think of Rogerian arrangement as a negotiation strategy where you are trying to build bridges between you and your audience. Due to it being more of a negotiation strategy, this arrangement is not the best to use for analyzing arguments like we could with Toulmin. It is more of a way of building an argument rather than analyzing one.
Outline for Rogerian Arranged Arguments and an Example
Outline
Introduce the problem and show why you and your intended audience are affected by the problem.
Then the writer begins with exploring the common ground she or he shares with the audience.
In the body of a Rogerian argument, the writer gives an objective statement of her or his position while trying to avoid loaded and attacking language, and trying not to imply that this position is somehow morally superior to the audience’s position.
The writer explains the contexts in which his or her position is valid and explores how they differ from the audience’s.
In the conclusion, the writer finally presents his or herthesis, usually phrased in such a way that shows the audience that the writer has made some concessions toward the audience’s positions.
Example
Smoking cigarettes can cause lung problems. Both first-hand and second-hand smokers are affected by cigarette smoke.
Scientific findings and researches show that the chemicals in cigarettes, apart from the smoke, can lead to health problems such as lung cancer.
Smoking cigarettes should be banned in public places.
In public places, more people, both young and old, can be exposed to the smoke from cigarettes. My position differs from those who might say that smoking altogether should not be banned. My position is that smoking in public places should be banned. It does not include smoking in private places like homes.
Smoking in public places should be banned because it poses health risks to individuals who are non-smokers and who do not want to inhale the fumes from cigarettes. The risks are double to those who already have lung ailments.
