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In debunking these misconceptions， we have touched on some important features of arguments.Though arguments can vary in terms of their types， target audience，medium， or purpose， there are some common features shared by most arguments．Arguments can be defined as a process of seeking agreement over a controversy of an issue through reasonable and responsible reasoning supported by sufficient， relevant，and appropriate evidence that appeal to the audience.The following section tries to present the general features that define arguments in general and shape good arguments in particular．
1 .Arguments take stances over stasis. Arguments often argue about controversial issues， which mean different things to different parties or sides.In other words， there must be a controversy over the issue that drives the different side to take a different stance on the issue.An issue that contains points of disagreement is called stasis.For example， the issue of abortion.It has sparked heated arguments about whether it is ethical or legal.Or the issue of dating on social networks.Some issues may focus on one controversy， one point of disagreement， such as gay marriage while others may stimulate multiple points of disagreements， such as the issue of global warming or globalization.If there is no disagreement， there will be no different stances to take，there will then be no need for argument.Thus， arguments always take stance over the controversies or disagreements in any issue．
2 .Arguments seek to reach agreement. Another necessary feature of arguments is that they seek to resolve conflicts so that both parties can reach an agreement.In doing so， each side tries to provide reasons to justify their opinions， negotiate disagreements，or make compromises if possible or necessary.Verbal fights that aim to stick to one’ s opinions and totally ignore other voices are not arguments because they do not narrow the gap but instead widen the disagreements．
3 .Good arguments justify their claims. Beyond these two basic features， good arguments always justify their claims.Good arguments do not just provide claim and reasons； they also clarify their claim， provide evidence， and use clear logical reasoning to demonstrate how such evidence supports their claim.Moreover， they don’t just lump all possible reasoning or evidence to justify their claim； they also often select evidence and reasoning that appeal to their chosen audience．
4 .Good arguments balance between truth and audience. As truth and audience are both important elements of arguments， most arguments try to balance their attention between audience and truth.Different types of audience， different types of situations，and different goals of arguments may call for a different degree of attention to audience or truth.In their well-received textbook， Writing Arguments ， the authors John Ramage，John Bean， and June Johnson use a continuum to measure the different degrees of attention that different arguments distribute to their subject matter （the truth） or to their target audience． 1
On this continuum， there are seven types of arguments with a different degree of attention to audience and truth.Each type of argument tries to explore an issue and present a position to an audience.The exploratory argument focuses mostly on the subject matter and tries to explore all sides of an issue， without sticking to one particular side， and giving little attention to the audience.The inquiry argument still focuses on truth but also invites the audience to explore the issue together with the writer.The dialogic argument targets resistant or hostile audience， explores both sides， and allows for concessions and refutations.The classical argument targets a general audience with a certain degree of skepticism or doubt and tactfully balances the attention to the audience and that to truth.The friendly one-sided argument focuses on some truth that particularly appeals to its target audience.The aggressive one-sided argument coerces the target audience not only into fully agreeing with the one-sided view but also into condemning other possible views and consequently urges them to take some extreme actions.The outright propaganda gives full attention to target audience， offers an often narrowed or oversimplified version of truth， and urges the audience to take some immediate actions．
The typical arguments required in college courses usually stand on the middle of the continuum and often seek to keep a balance between the need to appeal to audience and the need to explore truth.This means that most of the arguments we write in college courses are argument as inquiry， dialogical argument， classical argument， and one-sided argument targeting friendly audience.This， however， does not mean that other types—exploratory argument， aggressive one-sided argument， and propaganda—are not arguments.They are just not so often encouraged in academic settings．
Good arguments are ethical.Good arguments advance a reasonable position not to manipulate data， mislead readers or hide one’s biases.Such manipulative arguments are unethical.Good arguments are not just reasonable but also ethical.This means that we make arguments to inform， convince， and persuade readers openly， honestly， fairly，and responsibly.We do not manipulate facts， make hasty generalizations， cover personal biases with lofty missions， or trick readers into believing some distorted data．