Two Articles - Joseph Kwon

Joseph Kwon
October 10, 2008
Persuasive Writing
Arguments

The period of slavery in our American history wasn’t one of our prouder moments in history. It is very difficult to imagine that there was a time where human life was treated as a property. In the two readings titled, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” and “The Nature of Slavery”, there are about two slaves sharing their thoughts and perspective during the period of slavery in our American history. Both of these slaves release their frustration through their words. In both readings there are different types of arguments that can be found. Whether these two slaves we conscious of structuring their arguments or not, there can be different type of arguments that can be identify and categorized in each of the readings.
Evaluation is arguing if something is good or bad. It can also be arguing if something is moral or ethical, which is more appropriate for the two readings, I chose. In the reading, “The Nature of Slavery”, the slave talks about the horrible conditions and treatment of slaves. An evaluation in this argument is when, the speaker is talking about the view that the opponents of the anti-slavery cause had, and that they believe Ireland is more deplorable than that of the American slaves. This counter argument from the other side is questioning if the conditions and treatment of slaves in America good or bad. “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” talks about slavery being bad talking about how slaves receive no wages or the basic right of freedom, also says “There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him.”

Categorical is when you need to provide examples, based on our common agreement. A categorical argument would be when slaves weren’t able to be educated, staying illiterate, is an example of a horrible treatment of slaves. In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, we can see an example of categorical when the reading talks about how slaves don’t have the innate right as a human being, which is to be free.
Definition is when you need must provide the criteria, and defend the criteria. In “Nature of Slavery”, the definitional argument would be, “What is considered bad condition and treatment toward slaves?” In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, the definitional argument can be asked as, “What defines July fourth?”
In a topic such as slavery a reader can go deeper into the argument than just discussing if the issue is good or bad. An issue like slavery should be questioned if it is moral or ethical. Both readers have strong cases against slavery. There are also using their personal experience and their own views throughout the reading, so it makes the argument even stronger and emotional. In both readings, they have a proposal that can be identified. Their proposal is to abolish slavery, because it is unethical. In “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, it says that, “Shouldn’t all men be free and aren’t slaves men too.”
In both “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” and “Nature of Slavery” we see and argue that can be broken down to many different types. Each type of argument helps identify the important questions that need to be asked. Knowing each different type of argument can be crucial in developing in a powerful and well-rounded argument.