A Good Ransom Note Makes a Good Argument
- Bold Clear Premise (Thesis, Hypothesis)
- Step-by-Step Logical “Proof”
- Specific Details to emphasize and illustrate the reasoning
Does This Qualify as an Effective Proposal Argument?
Yeah, that’s a horrible Ransom Note. And it would make a horrible argument of any sort. It has no clear premise, follows no logic, is so short on details it does not clearly communicate the consequences of following or failing to follow instructions.
Does this qualify?
This is more like it, a clear thesis (Proposal Argument: deliver money or lose your husband.), full of specific details and bold claims, it makes its purpose known and identifies the consequences for failure to follow its excellent advice.
Reply below how this comparison of two Ransom Notes helps you understand the value of very specific claims and illustrative language.
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
The second one has clear instructions and gets the point across more effectively.
The first ransom note is very unclear on the claim, while the second one is a very specific claim and is persuasive. The second ransom note gets right to the point in the very beginning.
To specify what you are after you need to be straight and to the point with no dollying up your world and trying to sound smart but to be very thorough and blunt in an authoritative way that demands respect of the reader to believe in your words.
Well the first ransom notes has no real claim, no direct language, no clear instructions. It leaves the reader guess and not really sure what’s going on.
The second ransom note is very good it cuts straight to point with demand, ask, wants and there location. Also leaving a nice treat at the bottom of the note.
The comparison of these two notes highlights the importance of specific claims and illustrative language by showing the impact that adding a few specific details can have on a piece of writing. The first note lacked weight as it was relatively vague and the lack of details made it feel as though whoever wrote it was not serious about what they were doing; however, the second note added specifics about what to do to get the husband back as well as what would happen should they fail to get the money to him, or if they involved the police. By adding these specifics, the reader is able to feel the gravity of the situation and know the impact of if they do nothing.
This would help understand the values of specific details because based on the first note we would have to make assumptions, and theories to understand what the author is trying to claim. On the other hand of the second note, it gave specific details, and instructions on what the reader must do in order to prevent what the author is trying to say.
If I received this ransom note I would be genuinely scared because that language used by the author convinces me they are confident in a commitment to harming my husband if directions are not followed. Whereas, the lack of details in the first ransom note does not convince me of the author’s confidence at all and the lack of clarity makes me question the severity of the situation. This tells me we have to be bold and confident in the language we use when writing an argument. “Do not do this ” is much more convincing than “this will change the outcome”.
One was very specific; one was rather vague. One was very referential to what was happening, one was asserting what was happening. The first ransom note seemed more like veiled threat, like something a mafia boss would say: “You have a nice place, it would be ashamed if anything happened to it”. The second note, was much more straight forward, and asserted that the husband was abducted, and that he would be hurt if the reviver of the note did not comply.
The first ransom note is unclear and does not communicate the same sense of urgency that the second note does.This helps me understand the value of specific claims because they can improve the structure of my argument or point.The second note is more thought out and includes specific details that help narrow down a vague claim and communicates the importance of their demands in the same way i can present that in my writing.
The first ransom note was very unclear on anything to do. It was just simply asking for money and not giving any clear instructions. It also mentioned that the outcome of the situation could change but we don’t even know what would change.In the second ransom note it gave clear instructions, as well as threats.It also told the wife about the consequences and things.
The comparison of these two ransom notes have numerous distinguishable differences between them. Notable remarks made in the second ransom note are evidently clear when you make it your final statement to the audience; the ring finger. The first notes vague statements about the comfort of the husband changing, doesn’t quite put the audience in the distraught the writer wants them to be.
The two ransom notes shared with the class helped me to understand the value of very specific claims and illustrative language because it showed me two different kind of ransom notes. One of the notes showed no claim, instructions, or anything to tell me that anything was wrong. The other did the exact opposite. It stated the claim, told the person what to do, and that someone was in trouble. So with all of these differences in the notes, it allowed me to understand that being construct, putting claims, and illustrative language can help the audience understand what is actually going on.
The second ransom note is much more threatening than the other due to its use of illustrative language when threatening its reader. The first one reads more as a business proposition than it does as something someone should feel forced to comply with, while the second one definitely appeals to emotions more, especially fear. There is no actual information requested or given in the first note, unlike the second note which asks for a specific amount of money and is clear about what will happen if the reader doesn’t comply.
The two ransom notes, while quite long, have differences in how they’re conducted. The first one is vague, failing to give the reader any direct details on how to fulfill their request. Leaves questions such as, what do they want? When?
The second ransom note is organized, with clear cut requests from the reader. Such as how they want $9000, and where to put it (the locker, terminal and day). Including these quite specific details allows the reader to actually know whats being asked. Their point gets across strongly, whereas the first one was wishy-washy.
When constructing any persuasive argument, in this case, a ransom note, it is important to clearly lay out the point of the letter, and provide detailed instructions to satisfy the ransom. The threats, the instructions, and the proof of validity in the second ransom note makes it more precise, and more persuasive. In contrast, the first ransom note is more wishy washy, and fails to get to the point. For Mrs. Robinson to get her husband back, she has no instructions to follow from the first note. All she has is empty threats, and no way to communicate with the writer.
The first one is not clear about what it is talking about. The second one is clear that it is threatening and what the kidnappers want to happen. This shows how being clear is important.