Advocacy and Argumentation in the Public Arena: A Guide for Social Workers‪.‬

The estate tax suddenly appears in newspaper stories as the "death tax." School vouchers are renamed "scholarships." Through a simple change in wording, public debates about social problems take a different turn. Issues get reframed and previously rejected solutions, for better or worse, become more acceptable. For social workers and others engaged in public debates, knowing how to say something can be as important as the content. The art of rhetoric, or "effectively using language in speech or writing," (Websters Dictionary, 1993, p. 570), is an indispensable skill. Whether translating research findings for public consumption or arguing for a policy position that reflects social work values, social workers need a range of rhetorical skills so that our voices can be heard and heeded. Virtually all social work methods require strong communication skills, but the public nature of cause advocacy, that is, attempts to "effect changes in policies, practices, and laws" (Hepworth & Larsen, 1993, p. 503), requires specific rhetorical skills. There are many forums for cause advocacy. Social workers can testify at a public hearing, lobby public officials, answer questions posed by a reporter, or make presentations to a community organization (Bateman, 2000; Biklen, 1983; Schneider & Lester, 2001). Social workers also draft position papers, testimony, and op-ed pieces. The social work writings, among them Jansson's (1999) Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate, provide excellent tips for "policy persuasion" (p. 231), including how to diagnose an audience, fine tune a public presentation, or debate an opponent (see also Bateman; Bilken; Schneider & Lester).