Question

4. Arguments in Disguise

Sometimes the most persuasive argument is that which doesn’t seem like an argument at all. Songs, movies, news reports, advertisements: these and other forms of communication often contain hidden arguments that have a tremendous effect on how we view ourselves and the world. To learn more about where arguments may hide, read the information that follows.

Where Arguments Hide

The Illusion of Objectivity

Personal Taste Appeals

Spin

Propaganda

To spin a statement or event is to describe it in a heavily biased way—to present an interpretation of it that is favorable to a certain cause or position. When a person tries to spin a statement or event, he or she typically urges the audience to reject its obvious meaning and look at it in a new way. Consider this example:

The fact that the candidate lost the election by a wide margin doesn’t mean that he and his views are unpopular. It simply means that his opponent in the election did a much better job of getting supporters to the polls on election day.

When used in good faith, argument is a tool that can help people discover and explore ideas. The trouble with spin is that it is often dishonest, perverting argument into a weapon that obfuscates truth in service of a particular worldview.

Key Questions

•How does the text shift attention from the obvious meaning to an interpretation more favorable to the author’s cause or position?•Is this shift legitimate or deceitful?

Directions: Read this person’s comment, then select the correct answer to the question that follows.

Our company did not fire 2,000 employees. It gave 2,000 individuals the greatest gift of all: freedom. The freedom to choose their own destinies. The freedom that the Founding Fathers fought so valiantly to preserve.

What makes this comment an example of spin?

It expresses intellectual or moral certainty and asserts that the speaker is trustworthy.

It shifts attention from the obvious meaning to a meaning that is more favorable to the speaker’s position.

It uses vague words and phrases that prevent the audience from accurately understanding the issue.

What makes this comment an example of spin?

It expresses intellectual or moral certainty and asserts that the speaker is trustworthy.

It shifts attention from the obvious meaning to a meaning that is more favorable to the speaker’s position.

It uses vague words and phrases that prevent the audience from accurately understanding the issue.

Which one is correct

Answer 1

The correct option is -It uses Vague words and phrases that prevent the audience from accurately understanding the issue .

Explanation :-This shift is deceitful example of spin,because No one can compare the word freedom with unemployment. In today's world unemployment is the greatest curse. When an employee gets a job. they find the security and financial freedom. In our example the employer fired the employees,snatched the security of their employees and irony is that they pretended to be their savior. This is cruel jugglery of words. The speaker use vague word to proof his point/spin deceitfully. Not only that he brought down our founding fathers and malign the great american dream. It's totally deceitful and against the spirit of morality. Freedom is a very powerful and pious word. Speaker intentionally choose these words to legitimate his wrongdoing,it is a deceitful act.