Building the interstate highway system

The vice president uses information about the structure of the country's roads to convince his audience that it is a big problem. He discusses how the highway system was originally built with different intentions and for different purposes than what it is used for now, and that these original structure plan is now insufficient. He cites facts about the total number of miles of highway in relation to the number of vehicles that owned, deaths and injuries that occur on the roads, and the waste of time caused by roadways that are insufficient to meet the needs of the people. His plan intends to solve the problems of slow transcontinental traffic, intercity travel, access highways, farm-to-market travel, congestion, bottlenecks, and parking.

Response: Nixon article

1. What evidence does the vice president present that the state of America's highways is indeed a problem? What are the specific problems this plan is intended to solve?

--ejfleitz

Arguing for a Change

There are similarities and differences in arguing for a position vs. arguing for a change. In both of these types of essays, the author is attempting to convince his or her readers of a certain view on a topic. The main differences are in what the writer calls for the reader to do in response, and in the types of ideas suggested in the argument. In an essay that argues for a position, the author simply wants the reader to be persuaded to his or her point of view and to come to believe the same ideas about a topic as the author. However, in an essay that argues for change, the author is calling for the reader to become so dedicated a certain viewpoint that they are committed to reforming that subject. For example, Jefferson wants to stir his readers up so that they are ready to take a stand and take action to reform the situation. Also, Jefferson suggests specific steps that should be taken to change the situation and right the wrongs that have been committed against the people. Whereas in an argument for a position, the author's purpose in writing is just to convince the audience to believe a certain way, not necessarily to take action. An example of this is the article by Meredith Clark, who is trying to convince her readers that young adults without medical insurance is a big problem.

Position vs. Change

Arguing for a position and aruging a change is a lot alike, but also are a lot different. When you argue a position, your goal is to try and convince the reader your point of view. When you argue a change, you first of all have to convince the reader of your point of view,you then have to convince them to go ahead and actually go out and act somehow upon it. Jefferson argues a change because he first of all, lists why he he believes the king treats people. Then he states ways you can go and overthrow him from his throne. Clark argues a position because she just gives real life examples on how bad life is without Health Insurance. She doesn't go on and list things you can do which will change the quality of life without health insurance. As you can see they are kinda alike because they use their own experiences, but one goes on even more which make them different.

Position vs. Change

Writing for a position argument and writing an argument for change have some similarities and differences. Both of the arguments are trying to persuade an audience, but the actions from the audience is different. Writing for a position is when all the author is asking for the audience to agree with them. For example, in Ted Koppel's, "Take My Privacy, Please!", he is trying to show his audience that we do not have as much privacy as we should and that it will only get worse. He makes us feel almost afraid of what is going on. He persuades us to believe that our privacy has been taken away from us. Whereas, writing an argument for change is asking the audience to do something about the problem. For example, in Thomas Jefferson's, "The Declaration of Independence", he shows the problems and ways to fix them. He shows the severity of the problem and that life is intolerable under the king. He shows complaints, and this proves that this problem needs to be changed.

Therefore, in writing for a position, the audience is basically persuaded to take that specific position on the issue. So, writing an argument for change, is basically the next step of this. The author persuades the audience to see their position, but to also take action to their solutions for this problem.

Change vs. Position

Arguing for a change and arguing a position are a lot alike. The only real difference is what you are arguing about. Arguing for a change involves convincing readers to do something, or change a particular behavior. On the other hand, arguing a position is convincing the readers to beleive something, or change their viewpoint on a certain subject. In the "Declaration of Independence," Jefferson talks about freeing the country from Britain. It is such a broad topic, which is quite unlike the topic of "Life Without Health Insurance." In Clarks essay, she is talking about the personal problems many people without health insurance face. In Jeffersons essay, he includes many examples to support his opinion, just like Clark does to support her point.

Arguing for a Change

I think arguing for a change and arguing for a position are a lot alike. In both of them you are arguing for something you believe in. In arguing for a position you are wanting people to believe you and why you think that way. In arguing for a change you are explaining to the people why a change needs to occur and what they can do to help the change. Jefferson has to convince the people of a change so he lists complaints about the King and tells how badly the King treats his people. In Hillary vs. Grand Theft Auto, Johnson is arguing a poistion against Hillary. He thinkings video games are helping the kid's cognitive development and hand-eye coordination. He stats some facts like SAT scores and some studies but is mainly saying that kids are learning from video games.