Teaching Argument Writing with Frankenstories

Resemblance arguments help us identify similar situations and concepts so that we can use the things we know a lot about in order to help understand the things we don’t know as much about.

Resemblance arguments become faulty analogies when we push those similarities further than is reasonable (common when using conceptual metaphors), or haven’t properly established a resemblance in the first place.

False dichotomies contrast the main claim with an obviously less desirable opposing claim, and present both claims as if they are the only possible options.

This is very common in proposal arguments: “Either we do this, or we just let it all be a disaster!”

Write like one wants something from the other

R1: Have an unreasonable character introduce an issue and make a claim.
R2: Have the same character make a comparison to a similar issue that has already been resolved.
R3: Have the reasonable character point out a difference between the current issue and the analogy.
R4: Have the unreasonable character support their original claim by presenting an alternative (undesirable) option as if it is the only other option.
R5: Have the reasonable character point out another possible option.

Example game: The Toy Taker's Dilemma