Home Guides Parts of an Argument Identify a Common Concern

Introduction

Clearly Stated Position

Introduction

Provide Context for the Argument

Establish Credible Authority

Compel the Audience to Listen

Truism

Quote

Common Concern

Anecdote

Questions

Something New

Epigram

Establish Common Ground

Clarify a Problem

Argument

Conclusion

Citations

---

Related Resources
Print-Friendly Page
Authors & Contributors

Identify a Common Concern

In this way, you remind an audience that they already care about an issue. In the example, the writer addresses an American audience on the prayer in public schools issue by identifying it with free speech rights: the protection of which everyone is concerned. This provides a compelling reason for the audience to revisit ideas about prayer in schools while keeping the topic within the legal realm. For example:

What would happen if you were fired for criticizing your boss in a bar after work hours? If you were told you could not put a bumper sticker on your car endorsing the Republican candidate because it would offend your Democratic neighbor? Most Americans, in either of these instances, would be justifiably upset at how their right to free speech was being impinged. Yet, mention that students should be allowed to pray in school and, all of a sudden, the issue becomes murky. We are confronted with another legal issue: separation of church and state. Which of these "rights" should win in this battle? In this essay, I argue that neither is more important than the other, yet if we look closely at the issue of prayer in schools, we will see that there is a way to allow prayer, and thus free speech, without violating the separation of church and state.