Rhetoric Activities 2 and 4

2) Arguments happen every day, in a lot of different situations. However, like Jon Stewart commented, some arguments can't really be considered proper arguments according to rhetoric. For instance, the book mentioned the use of facts and opinions. Ancient rhetoricians taught that op ions developed because a whole community, not just a single person. So they should be valid to an argument as well. Because I could not think of an argument I had heard lately in the news, I settled on one I heard between two of my friends.
Both of the girls were discussing the Olympics. When the topic of Michael Phelps, the swimmer who won 8 gold medals, came up, the argument started. Friend A made her point. While she felt that Phelps was an excellent swimmer and that he represented the United States well in Beijing, she had heard from her brother, who had heard Phelps talk, that Phelps was a very arrogant person. Friend B was instantly fired up. She argued that Phelps was the best athlete at the Olympics and that he wasn't arrogant at all. How could he possibly be? He was the best swimmer there. This is an example of what I feel is not a valid argument. While friend A made a point and had second hand evidence, friend B could provide none. She could only put forth her view on the fact that she believed she was right.
A theatrical argument is one that does not provide the time for everyone to speak. Like the example in the book states, a rhetorically engaged argument does not have people simply shouting over one another or interrupting each other to get the arguments out. A rhetorically engaged argument is not one that can be won, like in the case of a theatrical argument.

4) In my community, persuasion comes mostly from the television. There isn't a lot of things around my community that influences us all on a daily basis besides TV. I think that a lot of my friends are heavily influenced by what they watch, and it shows on thier day to day lives. From commercials, to the news, even to the show themselves, I think that thier influence can be found. The news espeically influences. I read MSN news everyday and am influenced by it. I read information about diffrent food items, as an example, and then decide that I won't eat it anymore, or that I should eat it.
As for arguments here is a random list of them as I found them. I don't agree or disagree with them, I simply found them interesting.
-Children shouldn't be allowed to read Harry Potter because it introduces themes such as human sacrafice, the occult and a hunger for power.
-Not vaccinating your child causes serious health risks. Risks that outweigh the risks of actually getting the vaccinations.
-Second hand smoke provides as many health dangers as actually smoking.