A Focused, Well-Presented Issue: Framing an Argument for Your Audience

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 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

Disagreement over controversial issues often depends on a difference of values and concerns. To argue effectively, writers must anticipate what their readers are likely to think about the issue, and they must frame (or reframe) the issue to influence how their readers think about it. In “Sticks and Stones and Sports Team Names,” Estrada refers in paragraph 6 to the way in which the issue of sports teams’ names has already been framed by political conservatives, who use the label “political correctness” to belittle concerns about the issue. This label makes it sound as though those who object are just being overly sensitive. Estrada reframes the issue, changing it from a story about oversensitivity to a story about bullying.

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write a few paragraphs analyzing more fully how Estrada frames the issue of sports team names for his readers:

  1. What does Estrada do to construct a story about bullying? For example, how does the title, Estrada’s remembered experience (pars. 1–2), the anecdote (par. 8), or another aspect of the argument tell this story?
  2. Why do you think Estrada thought making the issue about bullying, instead of oversensitivity, would be likely to make his readers more receptive to his argument?
  3. If you were arguing your own position on this issue, how would you frame it to induce your classmates to be receptive to your argument? Why do you think this way of framing the issue would appeal to your classmates?

    Question