According to Britannica Encyclopedia a manifesto is a document publicly declaring the position or program of its issuer.

A manifesto advances a set of ideas, opinions, or views, but it can also lay out a plan of action. While it can address any
topic, it most often concerns art, literature, or politics. Manifestos are generally written in the name of a group sharing a
common perspective, ideology, or purpose rather than in the name of a single individual.

A manifesto contains arguments.

Now what is an argument?
Argument
➢ It is a claim that is reinforced by reasons or evidence.
➢ An argument comes up by persuading the reader of the ideas which an author believes in by supporting evidence or
reasons to prove a claim.
The Claim
➢ It is the point of the argument
➢ When a writer creates an argument, it’s the claim that the writer is trying to persuade the reader to accept as true.
Analysis
➢ It is where you need to brainstorm either to believe the claim or not.
➢ In analyzing an argument, you need to break down the parts and scrutinize each of them and see the connectedness
of every part.
Two parts of Argument
1. Claim or statement that sum up the main idea;
2. Reasons why that claim is accurate, and/or evidence to upkeep that claims.
Steps in Analyzing an Argument

Step 1- Identify the argument’s claim.

• What is the stand of the author of which he/she is trying to persuade?
• What is the point of the argument?
Step 2- Determine the reasons or evidences the author gives for support.

Step 3- Critical thinking is needed in weighing the reasons and evidence that the argument presents. Answer the
following:

• What is the source of the evidence?

• Is the evidence valid?
• Do the evidence or reasons fail the argument?
Step 4- Ask yourself how good the reasons or evidence are as support to the claim. If the evidence is weak or false,
then the argument will be less convincing or even invalid. If the evidence is poor, the argument will be less convincing
or even invalid.

Let's look at an example.

Reflective writing can aid students to become better thinkers. It can help them see that idea are intended to be
discoursed and deliberated. Bridges and Jost found that students who did weekly reflective journal writing about their
course content for a semester could scrutinize course concepts at a deeper level than those who didn’t.

The sentence "Reflective writing can help students become better thinkers" is the claim. In the next sentence, the claim
is extended, "It can help students see that ideas are meant to be discussed and debated." Finally, evidence is given,
often in the form of a citation, "Bridges and Jost found that students who did weekly reflective journal writing about
their course content for a semester could analyze course concepts at a deeper level than those who didn't."

Hence, the evidence supports the initial presented claim and its expansion.

1. Presented first is the main argument, or thesis statement.

2. The various parts are made with the purpose of supporting the main argument.
In order to begin in analyzing an argument, you must first consider the evidence given to you, then ask questions based
on that evidence.
Ask questions like,
• "From the evidence presented, is there a diverse explanation or claim?"
• "Is the evidence substantial and sound?"
• “What is the difference with the other evidence/argument that you’ve read?
You will likely discover two authors who make varied claims on the same topic. Just like this,

Universal health care system should be accessible by every citizen. It will let the medical professionals to focus on
healing their patients rather than minding the insurance procedures and liability concerns. By this, it provides
opportunity for regular checkups when they can’t afford it.

Universal health care is an unreasonable system where total costs end up being much higher compared to privatized
care. There is a decreased of doctor flexibility due to government policy and those that are healthy are forced to
subsidize the health benefits for smokers and those that are obese. Every citizen should be given access to health care,
but not in a publically-controlled system.

The two passages reflect an opinion regarding to the universal health care system. Even if they have the same topic,
they both claim varied things.

The first paragraph claims that universal health care gives doctor the chance to give emphasis on care over insurance
concerns while the second paragraph claims that doctor flexibility is reduced in such way due to insensitive government
policy.

The first paragraph claims that universal health care provides everyone the occasion for regular checkups, no minding
the cost while the bottom claims that such a system forces the healthy to sponsor benefits for those needing care due to
smoking or obesity.

Eventually, each author supports different claim with real reasoning. As you read, make sure you comprehend the claims
that the author is trying to make.

Activity 2-Analyze Me

Direction: Read and analyze the text, then answer the questions that follows. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Smart Technology is Here

- Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star) - June 24, 2018 - 12:00am

Technology is changing things. Sometimes, we are so enamored with all the new gadgets and other shiny objects; we
scrape up a lot of money from our hardearned savings just to make sure we have them lest we lag behind.
Technology does not only change things, it has transformed the way we lived and the rate of change is accelerating.
Consider the changes that have happened over the years. After the years following the Civil War, there were a handful
of technologies that reconfigured existence.
Thomas Edison’s light bulb extended the working day and may have created the workaholic.
The air-conditioner provided cool and comfort for hot and humid days and it pushed us indoors all day, causing the
reduction of our vitamin D levels.
The jet engine have shrunken distance but increased the scope of business as in warfare.
Radio and television spread information on massive scales which penetrated homes and private spaces, and shaped
culture.
Appliances sped up our tasks and chores, but reduced our physical strength.
Computers reduced outdoor activities but, in its stead, created an industry called fitness gyms.
Smart phones become the universal device for almost every technology application, and at the same time have raised
our stress and tension levels.
Social media has been able to bridge people from across the world, yet has isolated the people nearest them.

This is strange but it seems like the more social media one uses, the less social he or she becomes.
Technology has now created new businesses that the world has never seen before. Suddenly, YouTube stars that would
ever have had the slightest opportunity to flash their faces on the TV or movie screens and become overnight stars, and
earn millions to the consternation of their parents who still believe that they should get a “real job.”

Even the way I go to sleep and the way I wake up from my sleep has been altered by technology. For the past two to
three years, I have not physically set my alarm clock to the time I need to get up to start the day. I have always said,
“Alexa, wake me up tomorrow morning at 6:15 a.m. to the sound of classical music.” And then, my A.I.-enabled cylinder
that I purchased from Amazon.com will respond: “Alarm set tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock to classical focus on amazon
music.” And it does.
Now, expect more of this to happen. More people will be talking to their devices. Google home products, Apple’s Home
pod, and Amazon’s Echo are all competing in this field. This might pose as a challenge for people to be reminded that
when they talk to humans, they should still communicate with grace and respect. With machines, one can be rude,
impatient and be ill-mannered wanting to get the information we want but humans are not machines. I can be
awakened by Alexa with its classical music playing and in my still foggy mind and half-wakefulness say, “Alexa, shut up:
and it does stop. But can you imagine me talking this way to my clients or my family?

Smart technology is now similar to media in its ability to shape our lives in a thousand ways and in even more pervasive
means. We have even witnessed the rise of fake news and false content, and have seen how many young people have
become bashers and bullies, cussing and cursing in loud voices instead of improving their arguments through intelligent
conversations to the benefit of no one but perhaps, to a handful of marketing people whose sole mission in life is to
create noise, traffic, and click counts to raise up ad revenues for their sites. Technology can diminish emotional
intelligence as those who are immersed in it become socially and emotionally lazy, thanks to all the screens in our lives.

Geoffrey Fowler already has a sinister name for this fake news and false contents in social media as he calls it:
“counterfeit reality.” I guess what has happened over the years is that civilization driven by mass media and technology
has replaced our preference from a culture of character to a culture of personality.

Technology will not go away. It is not a passing fad. Businesses will be challenged, jobs will possibly be replaced, and so
we should learn it, know more about it and most importantly use it for good and not as a means to justify the means and
in many case….the “mean-ness.”

Famous book author and Professor Adam Grant whom I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing years ago says
this beautifully:

“We could” – refers to the creativity we can employ through smart technology.

“We should” – refers to the ethical and moral decisions we need to consider in its usage.

I am interested in technology developments. I am sure it will improve many people’s lives, but the same materials can
also be used to advance evil and harm. Therefore, we need to be reminded that technology is moral-neutral. It is still the
heart of the person using it that matters. Use technology for what matters most and that is for the good — for
everyone’s sake.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/06/24/1827252/7dKHY4z5uOELgVFO.99

1. What is the opinion of the writer about technology?

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2. Do you agree with the writer? Why or why not?

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3. What is the first argument presented by the writer in the text?

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4. What is the conclusion of the writer?

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5. If you were to write a position paper what will be your view about technology?

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