Grayson argued against selling his small coffee shop to Walmart, using logical arguments as well as rhetorical devices to create an emotional response and portray Walmart negatively. Though he resorted to some fallacious arguments, his overall presentation was stronger. Calen mainly used fallacious arguments and attacked irrelevant points, undermining his own credibility. The document concludes that Grayson won the argument.
3. Diction- style of speaking or writing as
dependent upon choice of words
Logos- using logic in an argument
Hyperbole- use of exaggeration
Irrelevant conclusion- rhetorical strategy
that diverts attention away from a fact in
dispute rather than addressing it directly
Pathos- rhetorical strategy that creates an
emotion response
Allusion- a figure of speech that makes a
reference to well known people, places or
events
4. Ad Hominem- a claim or argument is
rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact
Fallacy of False Cause- incorrectly assumes
one thing is the cause of another
Ad Populum- appeal to the majority
Non Sequitur- an argument in which its
conclusion does not make sense.
Straw Man Argument- attempts to refute
opponent's position but instead attacks a
position not held by his opponent.
5. Grayson was the representative of the
small coffee shop. He argued that his
shop should not sell out to Walmart.
•Professional, collected diction
• Ex: “moral scruples,”
“bourgeoisie,” formal vocabulary
(“populous movement,” “currency,”
etc.
• Gave Grayson ethos through a
professional appearance
•Pathos
• “These kids…”
• Shows coffee shop in a good light,
and makes Walmart look bad. It puts
the audience on his side.
6. Logos
Gas prices
Walmart destroying American currency
Gives Grayson credibility, makes Walmart look
bad
Allusions
“Les Mis,” “Occupy Wall Street,” “Dante’s
Inferno”
Appeal to the population (ad populus), fights for
empathy
7. Irrelevant conclusions (fallacy)
“You belong in the 10th circle of hell!”
(Dante’s Inferno)
Tries to show how Calen is bad, but the argument is
irrelevant to the conversation at hand. Slight ad
hominem
Resorted to physical violence (fallacy)
Let emotions get the better of him. This
argument was supposed to be verbal.
Damaged his credibility as a composed
businessman
8. Calen is the representative of
Walmart. He hopes to buy out
Grayson’s privately owned
coffee shop.
• Diction
•“Sir,” other professional
diction
• Shows that he is a
respectful man just looking
for a business deal
• Logos
• “3 billion… dollars!”
• Intends to logically prove
that his offer is a deal by
giving exact figures
9. Fallacy of False Cause
“Those kids… are the ones who voted in…”
Implies that Grayson’s patrons caused the money
problem
Straw Man Argument
“…Those stupid kids are what’s ruining this
country!”
Attacks a point – the state of the country – that
isn’t relevant to the argument
10. Non Sequitor
“…I should occupy your butt with my foot!”
Nonsensical threat that barely pertains to the
argument. He’s just being plain rude.
11. Physical
violence aside, who won this
argument?
We feel that Grayson won the argument.
12. In presenting his argument, Grayson focused
on using rhetorical devices such as diction,
logos, and allusions to prove his point.
Although he resorted to ad hominem and
irrelevant conclusions, we feel that his
argument was better supported and
presented. His strong points outweighed his
fallacies.
Calen mainly used fallacies to make his
point, which destroyed his credibility and
emphasized Grayson’s points.
13. Special thanks to Calen Durr and Grayson
Quay for being themselves and allowing us to
film it.
Thanks to Mount Olive Lutheran Church for
allowing us to film in their conference room.
(and throw their bibles…which they do not
know about)
Thanks to Get Go for putting up with our
craziness for hours upon hours and providing
free wi-fi and yummy food.