Convince Your Grandma Because There Are Reasons to Be Afraid: Walton’s Argumentation Schemes in the Video „Convince Your Grandma“

Abstract

In an article, I present two approaches to argumentation analysis: an informal logic analysis based on the work of Ralph H. Johnson and J. Anthony Blair and an analysis using Douglas Walton’s Argumentation schemes. In the first part of the paper, I define both approaches and explain their relationship. I also define the basic concepts of both approaches – the argument, the internal argument, the implicit premise, the structure of the premises and conclusion, the argumentation scheme and the critical questions. I also challenge their advantages and disadvantages. In the second part of the text, I apply the defined tools to the video Přemluv bábu (Convince your grandma, 2010). I put forward three research questions to answer. The aim of the first question is to depict the structure of the premises and conclusion of the argument in the video. The second question aims to seek argumentation schemes in the structure. Here I consider the most important argument from a fear appeal. The aim of the last question is to find the answers to the critical questions related to the argument from fear appeal. I come to the conclusion that the protagonists do not answer the questions satisfactorily. The intention of the paper is to present a case study on how to analyze an argumentation text using the selected approaches.