Argumentation and Oratory: Characteristics, Structure and Types

General Characteristics of Argumentation

Argumentation is a type of discourse whose main purpose is to convince the interlocutor of something or to win them over to a particular attitude. The issuer's position is subjective.

The essential difference between argumentative and expository texts is that expository texts present verifiable facts that can be proven true or false, whereas argumentative texts present opinions that cannot be considered true or false.

Situations Where Argumentation Appears

Argumentation appears in many situations of communication:

• Interpersonal situations: daily life, such as asking someone for something or trying to convince someone. These use informal language.
• Social situations: structured discourse using elaborate and precise language.
• Technical situations: scientific, legal, or administrative contexts that use formalized technical language.

Structure of Argumentative Texts

Argumentative texts generally have three parts:

1. Thesis: the position the author defends.
2. Development: the arguments used to defend the thesis or refute the opposing point of view.
3. Conclusion: the final statement that confirms the thesis.

Types of Arguments

Arguments that are difficult to refute are called solid arguments. Those that are easy to refute are called weak arguments. The main types are:

• Authority arguments: based on the opinions of recognized experts and renowned figures.
• Example arguments: based on verifiable data.
• Rational arguments: based on accepted truths in society.
• Experience-based arguments: based on the rational experience that happened to the speaker.
• Analogy arguments: based on comparison with something similar that is accepted by the receiver.
• Generalization arguments: based on beliefs that are most commonly held.

Oratory: Teaching, Persuading and Moving

Oratory consists of speaking in public with three fundamental purposes: to teach, to persuade, and to move. It shares characteristics with both everyday and technical oral argumentation.

• Persuading means trying to convince others that our opinions are correct, even though they may not always be accepted.
• Teaching means presenting knowledge to an audience in academic settings.
• Moving means awakening feelings through carefully chosen words. If the audience is moved, they may be more willing to accept our ideas and opinions.
• Pleasing means producing a pleasant feeling in another person with our words. It seeks to win over the listener and align their point of view with ours.

A good speaker knows the audience, adapts their message to make it easier to convince them, expresses themselves correctly, and shows a confident attitude. Verbal language, voice modulation, and body language are essential.

Main Oral Argumentative Modalities

• Academic oratory: professors and intellectuals expose their expertise with the intention of teaching and convincing.
• Debate: a discussion that combines argumentation with exposition. It requires the presence of a moderator who ensures participants are respected, gives turns, and keeps the topic on track to avoid disorder.
• Political speech: the rally, whose intention is propaganda. In ordinary times it is usually a political campaign speech. Its aims are more specific in the military environment.