Everyday Arguments combines highly practical and student-oriented argument rhetoric with an anthology of illustrative readings drawn from arguments of everyday life.

The practical rhetoric section is based upon a single and sensible four-part taxonomy of argument derived from the various purposes of arguments. Students are led step-by-step through the processes of generating, drafting, composing, and revising written arguments in all four categories. Stimulating writing exercises throughout each chapter encourage students to practice stills as they learn them, and to keep earlier skills fresh as they learn new ones.

The anthology of readings is closely tied to the principles and practices introduced in the rhetoric section. The overarching philosophy of the reading selections (and of the book as a whole) is that written argument — in all its variety — is the most common form of writing and that much can be learned about its practice from the texts we encounter on a daily basis.