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- Gary K. Clabaugh
- La Salle University
- Edward G. Rozycki
- Widener University
- ISBN: 0-697-34335-9
- 18 chapters, 192 pages
- Available: March 1997
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Analyzing Controversy: An Introductory Guide is the newest publication in McGraw-Hill/Dushkin's arsenal of
critical-thinking tools. It employs a cross-disciplinary approach to
quickly guide students in analyzing argumentative essays. It is
written in an informal, easy-to-read style that makes difficult
concepts simple to grasp, and it
is organized and tabbed to be used like a field guide, to be read in
any order that suits the student and the course.
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Purchase a copy for yourself right now!
The ISBN for Analyzing Controversy: An Introductory Guide
is: 0-697-34335-9
Give it to the operator when you call:1-800-262-4729
Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express are accepted for single copy purchases.
Applicable sales tax, shipping, and handling will be added to orders.
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PART I
PROBLEMS OF UNDERSTANDING
Issues of understanding are centrally involved in most controversies. This section examines how. It also explains how deliberately fostered misunderstandings seduce the unwary. Key topics include
- how slogans serve persuasion,
- how reifications cloak urgent issues,
- how definitions aid persuasion,
- how pseudo solutions displace real solutions, and
- how name-calling obscures legitimate concerns.
Chapter 2 Slogans
Chapter 3 Reification
Chapter 4 Definitions
Chapter 5 Pseudo Solutions
Chapter 6 Name-Calling
Chapter 7 Presuppositions
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PART 2
PROBLEMS OF FACT
Many controversies involve arguments about facts. This section investigates how facts are involved in disputes by
- explaining how one disputant's fact can be another's foolishness,
- examining the relationship of facts and feelings,
- showing how facts depend on consensus and authority,
- exploring the foundations of decision making, and
- describing the function of inquiry blockers.
Chapter 8 Feelings, Facts, and Logic
Chapter 9 Authority
Chapter 10 Operationalizing
Chapter 11 Inquiry Blockers
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PART 3
PROBLEMS OF VALUE
In a diverse society, such as the United States, people disagree on what is right or wrong, good or bad, important or unimportant, useful or useless, beautiful or ugly. And this clash of values is of central importance in many controversies.
Sometimes these value disagreements collide head-on. But they can also creep into disputes where they work their mischief more subtly. In either case, however, problems of value are important.
This section examines
- how facts differ from, yet are
influenced by, values,
- how values figure into costs
and benefits, and
- how values relate to the assigning
of credit or blame.
Chapter 12 Fact and Value
Chapter 13 Benefits and Costs
Chapter 14 Responsibility
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PART 4
METAPROBLEMS
Some critical issues prowl in the background of controversy, often going unrecognized. This section brings to the foreground for examination a sample of the more important of these metaproblems.
This section examines
- how logical errors influence disputes,
- the nature and importance of consensus,
- common assumptions about the nature of society, and
- hidden agendas that perpetuate controversies.
Chapter 15 What's Illogical?
Chapter 16 The Nature of Consensus
Chapter 17 The Nature of Society
Chapter 18 Why Controversies Persist
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