Argumentation

Argument

A coherent movement from a claim to a conclusion; the process of reasoned inquiry and rational discourse

Better understanding other people’s ideas as well as your own

What is the purpose of argumentation?

1. Immature

2. Extremely one-sided

3. Absolutes

What are common bad arguments? (3)

Claim

Assertion or propsition that states an argument’s main idea or position

1. Must be arguable / contestable

2. Must be stated in a complete sentence

What are the two requirements for a claim?

True

True or false; there can be more than one type of claim in an argument?

1. Claims of Fact

2. Claims of Value

3. Claims of Policy

What are the three types of claims?

Claims of Fact

This type of claim asserts that something is true or not true based upon verifiable information. These facts must be arguable, raise controversy, or challenge beliefs and originate from a verified source.

Claims of Value

This type of claim asserts that something is good or bad based on a moral, aesthetic, or philosophical topic. They must have a specific criteria for reference.

Claims of Policy

This type of claim asserts that a change should be made, usually beginning with the problem and explaining how it may be fixed.

Professional Essays

When is it normal for thesis’ not to be explicetly stated?

1. Clear

2. Unambigious

3. Identify the main points the writer intends to make

What are the three requirements for argumentation theses?

1. Closed — Statement of the main idea of the argument that previews the major points

   1. Best used for short or timed essays

2. Open — Statement that does not list all points covered in an essay

   1. Best used for many claims or long essays

3. Counterargument — Statement of the counterargument preceding the writer’s opinion usually with “although” or “but”

   1. Best for leading into a position with modification (not completely supporting or rejecting an argument)

What are the three types of theses? Define them and when best to use them.

1. What evidence is present

2. How much is necessary

3. How to present it

1. Audience

2. Purpose

3. Rhetorical Situation (Context, Occasion, Purpose)

What three things must an author consider when choosing evidence? What other three things do they consider when they do this?

Commentary

Giving your opinion, interpretation, insight, analysis, explication, personal reaction, evaluation, or relfection about evidence

1. Must comment on how evidence connects the thesis

2. Should be original

3. Evidence must be explained / Cannot stand alone

What three requirements are there for commentary?

1. Relevant — Must apply to the argument

2. Accurate — Must be from credible sources with consideration of bias

3. Sufficient — Must be enough from multiple sources

What are the three components of evidence? Define them.

G: Government and Current Events

O: Observation and Personal Experience

P: Philosophy and Psychology

H: History

E: Entertainment and Pop Culture

R: Reading

S: Science and Technology

Identify all the parts of GOPHERS

1. Observation and Personal Experience

2. Government and Current Events

What are the types of first-hand evidence? (2)

1. Philosophy and Psychology

2. History

3. Entertainment and Pop Culture

4. Reading / Research

5. Science and Technology

What are the types of second-hand evidence? (5)

Builds the writers ethos by demonstrating initiative to stay on top of current events but runs the risk of bias and misinterpretation

What are the benefits and disadvantages of including government and current events as evidence?

Adds a human element and builds emotion connections with the audience while making abstract issues more human and concrete but runs the risk of becoming a hasty generalization

What are the benefits and disadvantages of including observation and personal experience as evidence?

Hasty Generalization

Fallacy in which personal experience is not enough to establish universal proof

Experts are published and have specialized knowledge on topics, but they are experts in only one area and must be ensured as credible so that the audience will value the argument. It also runs the risk of creating an appeal to false authority.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of including philosophy, psychology, science, and technology as evidence?

Appeal to False Authority

Logical fallacy in which a writer relies on someone who has no expertise on an issue because they have authority in general.

Ex.) Trusting LeBron for your ideas on political policy.

They are verifiable facts that can provide background information and context while building the author’s ethos and developing a point of comparison/contrast with contemporary situations, but they run the risk of misinterpretation, complication, or post hoc ergo propter hoc.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of including history as evidence?

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Logical fallacy in which a correlation is mistaken for causation simply because something happened before something else.

It includes things that can be represented in numbers which builds argument crediblity and can be persuasive as a logical appeal, but runs the risk of being misinterpreted, having additional interpretations, or building a bandwagon appeal.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of including reading and research as evidence?

Bandwagon Appeal

Logical fallacy in which evidence is only supported by the fact that many people are doing it.

Ex: A sample size that is far too small for big claims