Concealed Claims - Making It Sound Nasty or Nice

Within a Concealed Claim, the argument can be a slanter, or a loaded question; or it can make it sound nasty or nice. It can also can downplay or up-play the argument or the players. I rather like the explanation of how it can make an argument or player sound nasty or nice, from the book. It reminds me a lot of politicians and their play with words to either win our hearts or blind us from the truth. Or sometimes, to either soften what they want to be soften in their favor. I realize this might be a strong sense of opinion in my part, but it is how i perceive it. Making it sound nasty or nice is a form where one uses either one of these styles, euphemism and dysphemism.

Euphemism - by definition, from the book, is a word or phrase that makes something sound better than its original description or claim.

Dysphemism - by definition, from the book, is a word or phrase that makes something sound worse than its original description or claim.

When I was little, my family had a family friend whose daughter was crazy, due to lots of drug abuse. We all knew that she was crazy or there was something wrong with her. One time, I remember one of my aunts gossiping about their family, and they were talking about how they feel sorry the family because they had a crazy child. But, instead of using the word crazy, the re-phrased it. They said,"How unfortunate that the family had a 'Special' child. Poor thing, there is something wrong with her head." - This I believe, will suffice as a euphemism.

An acquaintance I knew, was very peculiar in his manners and characteristics. There wasn't anything wrong with him per-say, he just has a lack of socializing skills. He is blunt, can be abrupt, and speaks very little, unless needed. But, in all a gentle human being. This did not fit well with one of my female friends (She is a much older lady friend). I had heard her says, "Oh, that man is a brute of a man. He is rude, cocky, and has such ugly manners.Very mean, he is. I'm sure if could rip your heart out with his glare, he would! " - This is an example of a Dysphemism.

Advertisement & Internet

Advertisement is a form of marketing, which is used to entice customers to buy products. The world of advertisement use to rely on news paper ads that are then sent to customers personal home and through television, but now, among everything else, its also through, via the internet. Advertisement through the internet or not, according to the book, advertisement is also a for of argument. An argument of persuasion. Where the premises may be true or it may be false.


One can look at an advertisement, and may or may not believe the claim. For example, I had seen an advertisement on television and online regarding a facial product line, called Meaningful Beauty. In the advertisement it said, it is a product made from a rare type of melon found in France, and it helps reduce wrinkled skin, and tighten pores, and makes your skin look even tone and healthy. It even claims that Cyndy Crawford uses this product for herself on a day to day basis. The advertisement also claimed that, if this product were to be bought outside, it would cost hundreds of dollars, but if you order from them, then they will reduce the pricing to just a payment of $39.95, and satisfaction guarantee or your money back. I was excited to see if there product really works, since I have been looking for a facial product line for myself and nothing I have tried so far had worked. Therefore, I had gone ahead and ordered the product to try it out.

The result was that it did not work. Not only did it not work, but the product itself had cause my skin to be irritated when using it. When I had tried to return the product, I was charged an shipping and handling fee, which was not mentioned when I had originally ordered it.

Below is the link to thier website:
http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com/

Content Fallacies

Fallacies are arguments, bad arguments that are not repairable. It is an argument of a comment, opinion, or fact that is prone to falsity with little premises. Content fallacies are whenthe premises (generic premises) of an argument is "dubious", as the book would say(Epstein, Critical Thinking). And there's nothing to support its conclusion. But, as the book pointed out, these premises can sometimes be true rather than false. There are many different types of content fallacies, such as false dilemma, slippery slope, and appleal to the emotion.

False Dilemma - is when you have an "either" or "or" situation, where you might believe that there is only two options you can choose from. But in reality, there might be more than just those two options you are confronted with.

Example: My dad always tells my brother that he either gets straight A's in school and be successful, or don't and be a bum for the rest of his life.

In this situation, there are other options that my brother can have. He doesn't necessarily have to have all straight A's in school to be successful. There are other ways to be successful too. Just look at Bill Gates, and how he turned out to be a success, even though he didn't go to college. Therefore, what my dad is not entirely correct.

Something New I Learned

In the book, Essential Guide to Group Communication, by Dan O'hair there was something that I had read that interested me. There was a section that talked about developing critical thinking skills and what strategies to help to develop or further develop those skills.

The strategies are:
1. To consider multiple perspectives, instead of just one, since one can be subject to error.
2. You have to clarify your values, because this helps you understand what your goals and purpose are.
3. You also have to clarify the issue or question at hand, so that you can make it into a clear statement.
4. Another part of the strategy is to evaluate the information so that you can see where the source of the information is coming from. Verify if it is valid or not, and clarify it is an opinionated statement or based on backed up evidence.
5. Also, according to the books strategy, you have to identify any contradictions that might come up.
6. Take a step back, and take a look at the big picture. This way you can develop a fuller understanding of what you are doing.
7. After looking at the big picture and finding a valid source of your issue, then you would now want to pursue it by exploring to see what part of it is valid and what part is false, to extract out the faulty parts.
8. After all the steps above, and you have finally finalize what your issue is, and what is true or false about it, it is now time for you to summarize it with relevant facts and evidence in a way that the public can understand.
9. After summerizing your issue and values, it is now time for you to draw a conclusion, or in some cases a solution.

STRONG & VALID ARGUMENTS

Strong Argument:
"Every time I drink an alcoholic beverage, my face turns red, and I get itchy hives all over my body. Therefore, I must be allergic to alcohol."

This is a strong argument, because when a person is allergic to something, one tends to get itchy red bumps over one's body or get a puffy skin reaction to it, along with shortness of breath, or all the above. Since, I get an itchy red bump reaction, along with a shortness of breath when I drink alcohol, then the result must be that I have an allergic reaction towards it. But, at the same time, the conclusion of my statement can be false, since it might not bey an allergic reaction, but an reaction due to my body weight and how much alcohol I can intake, and how fast it is absorb into my system.

Valid Argument:
"When you go to an amusement park such as Great America or Six Flags, you have to pay for an entrance fee. John is in the amusement park, therefore, he must have paid an entrance fee.

This a valid argument, because amusement parks such as Great America or Six Flags do require an entrance fee to spend a day in their park. Hence, it is a true premise.

A valid argument, is where the premises (a premises - is a proposition upon which an argument is based on or from which a conclusion is made) is true, and no chance of it having a false conclusion. If it has a true premise and a false conclusion to it, then it is most likely an invalid argument. Whereas, a Strong Argument, may have a true premise but it can have a possible false conclusion.

Subjective & Objective Claims

Within the "Critical Thinking," book by Epstein, it talks about arguments and how it can be subjective or objective. According to the book, a Subjective claim is a claim that is true or false, which depends on what someone, something, or some group thinks. But, if it is a subjective claim that almost everyone agrees on, it is called and intersubjective claim. Whereas, an Objective claim, according to the book, is a claim that is not subjective and invokes impersonal standards.

Example of a subjective claim:
- The Opera is boring.
This is an subjective claim, because the opera might be considered boring to me, but it might not be to someone else that might actually enjoy the opera.

Example of objective claim:
- A package of Verona Strawberry cookies from Pepperidge Farm has 140 calories.
This is an objective claim, because it does not depend on a belief of a person or group, but based on facts.

Introduction

Hello,

I am a senior at San Jose State, and planning to graduate this coming spring with a degree in Human Resource Administrative Management. My real name is Anne Nguyen. I have very little experience with communication or public speaking, aside from my comm20 class and class project presentations. Hopefully this class will teach me more regarding communication and how to communicate well with others. :) There are many things I like to do during my spare time, but mostly I like going to the beach whenever I can. My favorite season is autumn, and I enjoy playing the piano, and taking pictures (not usually of myself, but others, objects, nature, and landscape) whenever time permits. I also love to garden, and watch the plants grow and bear fruits/vegetables. My favorite sports are Hockey, and football ( Soccer to most of you). If given a chance, I would love to be able to travel the world. Watching the world cup right now!! Woot!! :)