ARGUS: Seeing the Influence of Narrative Features on Persuasion in Argumentative Texts
arXiv:2602.24109v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Can narratives make arguments more persuasive? And to this end, which narrative features matter most? Although stories are often seen as powerful tools for persuasion, their specific role in online, unstructured argumentation remains underexplored. To address this gap, we present ARGUS, a framework for studying the impact of narration on persuasion in argumentative discourse. ARGUS introduces a new ChangeMyView corpus annotated for story presence and six key narrative features, integrating insights from two established theoretical frameworks that capture both textual narrative features and their effects on recipients. Leveraging both encoder-based classifiers and zero-shot large language models (LLMs), ARGUS identifies stories and narrative features and applies them at scale to examine how different narrative dimensions influence persuasion success in online argumentation.
arXiv:2602.24109v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Can narratives make arguments more persuasive? And to this end, which narrative features matter most? Although stories are often seen as powerful tools for persuasion, their specific role in online, unstructured argumentation remains underexplored. To address this gap, we present ARGUS, a framework for studying the impact of narration on persuasion in argumentative discourse. ARGUS introduces a new ChangeMyView corpus annotated for story presence and six key narrative features, integrating insights from two established theoretical frameworks that capture both textual narrative features and their effects on recipients. Leveraging both encoder-based classifiers and zero-shot large language models (LLMs), ARGUS identifies stories and narrative features and applies them at scale to examine how different narrative dimensions influence persuasion success in online argumentation.
Executive Summary
This article presents ARGUS, a framework for analyzing the impact of narrative features on persuasion in argumentative discourse. ARGUS introduces a new corpus annotated for story presence and six key narrative features, combining insights from established theoretical frameworks. Leveraging encoder-based classifiers and zero-shot large language models, ARGUS examines how different narrative dimensions influence persuasion success in online argumentation. The study's findings have the potential to inform strategies for crafting more persuasive arguments, particularly in online settings. The ARGUS framework provides a valuable tool for researchers seeking to understand the role of narrative in persuasion.
Key Points
- ▸ ARGUS is a comprehensive framework for studying the impact of narrative features on persuasion in argumentative discourse.
- ▸ The framework introduces a new corpus annotated for story presence and six key narrative features.
- ▸ ARGUS leverages both encoder-based classifiers and zero-shot large language models to analyze narrative features and their effects on persuasion.
Merits
Strength in Theoretical Foundation
ARGUS builds upon established theoretical frameworks in narrative and persuasion studies, providing a robust foundation for its analysis.
Methodological Innovation
The use of encoder-based classifiers and zero-shot large language models facilitates the large-scale analysis of narrative features and their effects on persuasion.
Demerits
Limited Generalizability
The study's findings may be specific to online argumentation and may not generalize to other contexts, such as face-to-face or written communication.
Need for Further Validation
While ARGUS shows promise, further validation studies are necessary to confirm its effectiveness in real-world applications.
Expert Commentary
The ARGUS framework represents a significant contribution to the field of narrative and persuasion studies. By leveraging both theoretical insights and cutting-edge machine learning techniques, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between narrative features and persuasion. While the study's limitations must be acknowledged, the ARGUS framework shows great promise for informing strategies for crafting more persuasive arguments in online settings. As the study of persuasion and influence continues to evolve, the ARGUS framework will likely play an increasingly important role in shaping our understanding of these complex phenomena.
Recommendations
- ✓ Future studies should seek to validate the ARGUS framework in real-world applications and explore its potential for use in other contexts, such as face-to-face or written communication.
- ✓ Researchers should continue to develop and refine the ARGUS framework, incorporating new insights and techniques to further enhance its effectiveness and applicability.