Oleg Kolmanovsky William Dawely MMW 12 January 22, 2014 Argument Analysis Exercise

What is the authors topic? On which event, issue, institution, phenomenon, and/or person does the author focus? -The author focuses on the phenomenon that is southernization (1) In which historical period did the subject of the essay exist or take place? -Southernization took place roughly from the 4th to the 18th centuries In which geographical area did the subject of the essay exist or take place? -Southernization originated within India, and spread from southern regions such as southern China and the Arabic world into the northern half of the globe (21)

What is the authors project? What research question does the essay address and/or what problem does it attempt to solve? -The article answers the question what is southernization and addresses its impact on western society and westernization (1) What is the authors thesis? What is the answer to the authors research question or the solution to the problem that he/she poses? -The answer to the problem that the author poses is that southernization was in fact pivotal in bringing about westernization. (1)

What are the components of the authors argument? What claim(s) does the author develop and support in making his/her argument? -Althugh the author makes a plethora of claims the most important ones are the idea that southernization played an important role in Westernization, and the incredible impact southernization had on the world (21) Does the author explain the connection between each of these claims and the thesis? How thoroughly does he/she explain that connection? -The author does explain the connections between claims and thesis. Concerning southernizations role in laying a foundation for westernization, the author provides examples of key tools of westernization originating from southern areas (18). The documentation of the spread of inventions also demonstrates southernizations influence on the world. How well does the author support his/her claims? On what kinds of evidence does the author rely? -The author relies on historical documentation drawn from professional texts and other secondary sources Where does this evidence come from? How reliable are the sources of this evidence? -Although the evidence is quoted from a secondary source, the evidence itself is usually from a primary source and therefore reasonably trustworthy. How much evidence does the author offer in support of each of his/her claims? Are some claims better supported than others; that is, does the author offer more evidence for some claims than for others? If so, which ones? -For minor claims, such as a piece of evidence presented as a claim, the author provides a citation to support its correctness (11). These claims/evidence then go on to support the thesis, each being equally relevant to both overarching arguments the author is making as both claims play off of each other. Does the author discuss the relevance of the evidence to each of his/her claims? What is the effect on your understanding of the argument when he/she does so? -The author does occasionally discuss the relevance of presented evidence (18). These interludes help to solidify the validity of the authors argument. Does the author address counter-arguments and/or alternative hypotheses? Does the author refer to points of view different from his/her own? If so, does he/she explain these alternate views? Does he/she support them with evidence and/or

explain how the same evidence can support both the thesis and the alternative views? What reason(s) does the author give when explaining why his/her claims are stronger than other scholars claims? -The author makes no direct reference to an alternative argument to his own, but the structure of the thesis implies the alternative opinion. That is, the opinion that southernization wasnt as important of an event as the author makes it out to be and that it did not in fact have a serious impact on westernization.

Overall, how persuasive do you find the authors argument? Based on your analysis of the arguments components, how well has the author convinced you that his/her point of view is correct, or at least plausible? -The author has definitely convinced me of the correctness of his arguement If you are not persuaded, what is the basis for your skepticism? What else would the author have to do to convince you? What other kinds of information might you need to fully assess the strength of the authors argument? -The author has fully convinced me.