Introduction
The art of rhetoric provides people with helpful recommendations on how they can effectively talk. In arguments, for example, participants should use multiple techniques and strategies to support their claims and make opponents’ opinions less convincing. Reducing an argument to absurdity is an efficient tactic to win in a debate because this approach helps depreciate the meaning of the opponent’s position, while an argumentative brief is another useful tool.
Discussion
Also known as reductio ad absurdum, reducing an argument to absurdity is an effective refutation tactic. According to this strategy, a person should develop “the logic of the opponent’s argument to a point of absurdity” (Nordquist, 2020, para. 1). For example, if a person states that more hours of sleep make people healthier, their opponent can ask whether this statement denotes that an individual with sleeping sickness is the healthiest. Consequently, the given tactic demonstrates that the initial argument has some weak points, meaning that it is possible to refute it.
In addition to that, an argumentative brief is a significant element that can help people present their opinions in a more efficient way. The term stands for an initial representation or announcement of an argument. The brief mentions the main idea, while the further communication provides the audience with supporting details. One can claim that the given strategy is worth considering because it attracts the attention of the audience from the beginning and makes the speech more convincing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the essay has commented on two significant concepts, including the tactic of reducing an argument to absurdity and an argumentative brief. The two are effective, but they can be used for different purposes. The refutation tactic is required when a person wants and has an opportunity to depreciate this opponent’s view by showing its absurdity. In turn, an argumentative brief is a significant element that can help attract attention and make an argument more convincing.
Reference
Nordquist, R. (2020). Reductio ad absurdum in argument. ThoughtCo.