Reflective Argument Analysis

Wilhoit (2009) explains building an argument is a complex task that does not require adhering to a specific rules and methods prescribed to you throughout your high school career. Although they certainly have a place in arguments in that they provide the infrastructure, the key premised to building an academic argument is understanding and establishing the rhetorical situation. It will give you an understanding of who the writer and the audience is, what is the subject or topic, the reason or occasion and finally the purpose of why the argument it being written (p.1-4). In this essay we will take a step by step look at how to construct a reflective argument in response to Michael Hardt’s “Are we capable of Democracy” argument in Examined Life.

As well as how and when did I learn this? How trustworthy or authoritative are my source of information’s? How might my feeling or belief be misguided (Wilhoit, 2009, pp. 130-131)? I have spent my life in the American school system and through that education I have gained access to both creditable and authoritative information as well as some information that it’s less than trustworthy. I have also visited many countries outside the United States so I feel that I have a general idea of what others think about democracy and human nature. Within U.S democracy is an entitlement of being a citizen. A majority of neighboring nations consider the U.S. as the land of opportunity; a true democratic nation. The reality is that the U.S is likely the closest reflection of democracy but it is nowhere near the true definition. My thoughts on democracy are completely subjective and based more on citizenship experience that actually knowledge. The same goes for my experience with human nature, there is a school of thought that states that a person’s nature is not changeable. However, if that were true, I would not be in a classroom striving to obtain my bachelor’s degree at the age of 43, I would be a homeless, hopeless drug addict begging on a street corner for a dollar in downtown Portland without hope or aspiration. My feeling and belief around democracy and human nature are just that my feeling

For the purpose of developing this response argument I would elect to do more research. The rationale is that my knowledge is based on experience and emotion and not grounded in facts and in writing and effective, persuasive and convincing arguments you need to support your assertions and while I have large amounts of passion for my opinion they are just that opinions that are not fact based but rather emotion based and while that emotion will enable me to produce an persuasive argument once the research is complete it is not enough to manufacture an academic