UNIV 1212: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Dr. Runna Alghazo
Section:
Names: Norah Aleisa, Budoor AlOthman, Arwa Alkhadi, Hessa Alrajeh
Introduction:
This chapter provides all aspects to consider when approaching recipients to
convince them on a certain topic, which are essentially the building blocks of
any successful influencer. Throughout the first section, Arguer as
Communicator, we learn the three vital qualities that a true influencer
possesses. Then it goes on to cover the characteristics of the recipients,
which every arguer needs to understand in order to figure out how to convince
the recipient. After that, an arguer must choose the appropriate
communication strategies, techniques, and principles needed to use when
convincing the recipients. Lastly, the chapter focuses on how the arguer can
use language in order to provide the recipients with arguments that are
instantly understood and always remembered.
Critical Thinking and Communication:
Critical thinking consists of a set of skills that lead us to process information
comprehensively, as well as detect false ideas and reject them.
Communication, on the other hand, is the process of sharing knowledge and
understanding with other individuals or groups. A successful communicator is
one that is able to think critically and share their knowledge in an effective and
persuading way. Usually, problems and issues with communication are arised
from the inability to think in a critical way about any situation, such as seeing
things from different ways and perspectives. We can all observe from our
everyday lives that people who do posses the ability to think critically towards
any situation or argument tend to have better communication skills.
The importance of communicating arguments in argumentation:
This chapter focuses on communicating with recipients and audiences to
develop clear and persuasive arguments by adapting their own messages to
the recipients’ own point of views. That is basically what the first part of the
chapter talks about; understanding the recipients’ characteristics and the
strategies, techniques, and principles needed to convince them. It also
teaches us how to use language to support the meaning of a certain
argument. Any arguer cannot possibly influence and convince their recipients
unless he or she truly understand the knowledge presented in this chapter
and uses them in his or her every day life.
Key Concepts:
First key concept that we think is very essential for influencing recipients is
Identification. Identification is basically an influence that occurs when people
find a source to be attractive and wish to enhance their own self-esteem by
developing any type of connection with the source. A simple example of that
which we see everyday is when a company hires supermodels or famous
actors for advertisements of everything from soft drinks, to clothing, and even
cars! It’s more likely for a person to buy, say, a certain brand of shampoo,
when they see an image their favorite actor or actress’s face on the
packaging.
Second key concept, Internationalization, is based on the way recipients
process a certain argument or message in their own individual way. For an
example, when two different people look at a PETA ad, where a picture of a
half naked actress or model is shown with a slogan saying “Fur? I’d rather go
naked.” The first person might take it as a message of empowerment and
sympathy to animals, while the second person might see it as offensive and
degrading to females. It’s the same ad, but how people receive it is essentially
based on their own cognitive systems.
Third, Expertise and Trustworthiness, is most probably the hardest skill to
master. To put it simply, a person would most likely choose to buy a certain
type of toothpaste that is certified by dentists, then one that uses gorgeous
models with perfect white teeth for advertisements.
Fourth key concept is Reframing, which is technique used for persuasion.
Reframing is basically presenting a certain point of view while still
acknowledging other points of view. For example, an arguer is more likely to
win argument if he or she addresses different points of view as well.
Fifth key concept we personally think is very important is Using Evidence.
Companies that show studies of how their products are beneficial and
effective have a higher chance of people buying their products.
Case Study:
This case study explains an illustration of the challenges speakers face when
presenting arguments. Here, Nick and Eva argued over the ethics and
illegality of file sharing and whether university should intervene more strongly
to prevent it. Their discussion was in preparation for a public debate, which
focuses on the preposition that “Student caught illegally sharing files should
be immediately expelled from campus”. Both Nick and Eva had done many
things correctly, especially when compared to a point who did not present the
same quality or depth of background and research. They debated on a topic
aboutwhich they were well-informed. However, they failed to consider
important questions about the recipients and their views that were immensely
vital in getting the message accepted, and in result, the audience had
responded rather negatively to their presentation.
On the other hand, audience members commended Dan and Dan’s weaker
and more emotional arguments that supported illegal file sharing because
students didn’t have much money to spend on overpriced cd’s. members of
the audience also commented that although Nick and Eva had good
information, It was boring and overly complex because of their use of jargonladen description of peer-to-peer technology and too many questions from
legal analyzes. The audience also liked Dan and Dan’s clear presentation
because it connected their arguments to the recipients’ experiences, and they
said that Nick and Eva had failed to make their arguments clear and didn’t
address the views and attitudes of the majority of the people in the room who
believed that music downloading was a justifiable response o the music
industry’s price gouging.
Nick and Eva left the auditorium very discouraged. So what could have
possibly went wrong with their carefully researched and well-crafted
presentation? consider the following questions:
1- How their well-crafted and thoroughly researched arguments fail when
presented to an audience?
2- Other than the evidence, claims and reasoning, what factors determine
whether recipients accept or reject arguments?
3- How exactly do technically weaker arguments such as those presented by
Dan and Dan become more persuasive for audiences?
4- What could or should Nick and Eva have done differentially?
Conclusion:
This chapter focuses on the main aspects of adapting certain messages to
the recipient or audience’s point of view and using language that supports the
meaning of an argument. In this essay, we first described how communication
and critical thinking are related. Secondly, we briefly talked about the
importance of communicating arguments in argumentation. Thirdly, we
counted five key concepts, which are identification, internationalization,
expertize and trustworthiness, reframing, and using evidence. Lastly, we
discussed a case study from this chapter that involves communicating
arguments in argumentation.