Read the two arguments below. Which do you think is more effective? Argument 1 Katya: Of course, folk music is better than rock music! It’s more fun to sing, and you don’t need instruments. Anybody can sing it. Harper: That’s crazy! Folk music is so old-fashioned. Nobody listens to it anymore. I like pop music much better. Argument 2 Katya: Folk music deserves respect because it is one of the oldest forms of music. It has been around for centuries! It lasts because it expresses universal ideas and themes, and it doesn’t require you to know how to play an instrument. Harper: Even though I’m not a big fan of folk music, I agree with the points you made. In addition, I think that some pop music is based on folk music, so folk has value. The second argument is more effective. There, Katya makes a claim about folk music and backs it up with a reason and some evidence. This evidence persuades Harper to agree that folk music deserves respect and has value.
To determine which argument is more effective, it is important to consider the structure, reasoning, and evidence provided in each argument.
Argument 1:
Katya begins by stating that folk music is better than rock music because it is more fun to sing and doesn't require instruments. While this is a subjective opinion, Katya does not provide any reasoning or evidence to support this claim. Harper counters the argument by stating that folk music is old-fashioned and not popular anymore, favoring pop music instead. However, Harper also fails to provide any reasoning or evidence to support this claim.
Argument 2:
Katya starts by asserting that folk music deserves respect because it is one of the oldest forms of music and has been around for centuries. This statement is supported by the evidence that folk music has a long-standing history. Katya further reasons that folk music lasts because it expresses universal ideas and themes and does not require knowledge of playing an instrument. Harper, although not a big fan of folk music, agrees with the points made by Katya and adds that some pop music is based on folk music, thus acknowledging the value of folk music.
Based on the evaluation of the structure, reasoning, and evidence provided, it is clear that Argument 2 is more effective. In this argument, Katya makes a claim about folk music and supports it with reasons and evidence. This logical and well-supported approach persuades Harper to agree with the points made and recognize the value of folk music. In contrast, Argument 1 lacks this substantiation, relying solely on subjective opinions without providing any solid reasoning or evidence.