Journal of Argumentation in Context - Volume 7, Issue 3, 2018

Abstract

The argument from example is frequently used in health communication interventions. Some of these arguments are narrative in nature, in the sense that they relate a series of logically related events containing an experiencing agonist. In this article, research on narrative persuasion is discussed in order to show how such narrative arguments from examples can influence the target audience’s beliefs about the possibility that a certain action will lead to certain consequences, the desirability of such consequences, as well as provide the target audience with ways by which to circumvent obstacles that prevent them from putting their intentions into actions. As such, narrative arguments from example can serve the needs of both people who still need to be motivated to change their behavior as those of people who already intend to adapt their behavior but fail to put this intention into action.

Abstract

Weight-loss efforts have grown more prevalent worldwide. But diets are linked to perception of dissatisfaction, sacrifice and general reduction of pleasure. This paper examines the hypothesis that commercial diets attract consumers by presenting argumentation that appeals to and addresses the difficulties experienced while dieting. The objective of this paper is, therefore, (1) to identify the main promotional strategies in the marketing of commercial diets and (2) to examine if and how the goal of persuasion prevails over the reasonableness of the advice. This research presented a case-study analysis of 12 commercial diets popular in the United Kingdom. An analysis of the argumentation in the online marketing of these diets was conducted. The diets were found to have three distinct features (with or without the endorsement of gurus, with or without the sale of products and the type of weight-loss method used). The analysis revealed that the most prevalent promotional strategies focused on characterizing the diet as being effective, healthy, pleasurable, easy and promoted by a prominent nutritional expert. Additionally, some argumentation structures were observed to contain inconsistent arguments as well as fallacious arguments. Marketers of commercial diets might appeal to easy ways of losing weight that might be suboptimal to adequately inform consumers’ decision-making. A better focus on information for health promotion is needed to balance the benefits of commercial diets in light of a realistic view on how to lose weight.

Abstract

In dispute mediation, mediators, perhaps counterintuitively, make the disagreement between parties explicit and formulate their interventions on the disagreement in such a way that the disagreement is made manageable. In this paper, three functions of identifying and elucidating the parties’ disagreement that demonstrate the importance of making disagreement salient – (1) uncovering real issues, (2) emphasizing conflict ownership, (3) making disagreements manageable – are presented. Corpora of mediation simulation transcripts are used as empirical bases for the analyses of the means by which mediators make disagreement explicit (the how) and for what specific functions they do so (the why). The three aspects of strategic maneuvering (van Eemeren 2010) are used to analyze how mediators construct the interventions on the disagreement in terms of: (a) the topics they select from the topical potential, (b) the adjustment of interventions to suit their intended addressee(s), and (c) what presentational devices are used.

Abstract

Energy democracy hopes to foster community engagement and participation in shaping our transition from fossil fuels to a renewable energy-based economy. These considerations result from critiques by environmental justice, climate justice, and just transition advocates. Although many are sympathetic to energy democracy ideals, climate goals often are articulated in math terms. This essay defines the aforementioned key terms and asks: what are the limitations and possibilities of engaging publics when climate action solely is articulated in numbers? A compelling case study is the City of Boulder – recognized as a global leader in climate science and a national leader in innovative environmental planning. This essay shares work from 2016, when the City shared a climate action plan for public feedback, supported several public participation events, and passed climate action legislation goals. We argue a just transition and energy democracy ideals are hindered if we reduce climate goals to math.

This article reviews Prototypical argumentative patterns: Exploring the relationship between argumentative discourse and institutional context

This article reviews Fundamentals of legal argumentation. A survey of theories on the justification of judicial decisions

This article reviews Legal Argumentation and the Rule of Law

This article reviews New Insights into Rhetoric and Argumentation