Argument Terms 7000

Argument

process of establishing that a claim, belief, position, or conclusion is reasonable

Claim/Conclusion/Position

The central assertion or position that an argument seeks to establish.

Premises/Contentions/Reasons

Statements that support or justify a claim by explaining why the audience should accept it.

Warrants/Analysis/Commentary/Reasoning

Logical explanations that connect evidence to a claim, demonstrating why the evidence supports the argument and how it contributes to the writer’s larger position.

Claim of Fact

Assertion about what exists, has occurred, or can be demonstrated through observation or evidence

Claim of Definition

An assertion about how something should be understood, interpreted, categorized, or classified

Claim of Causality

An assertion that establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between events, conditions, or actions

Claim of Value

An assertion that evaluates something as good or bad, beneficial or harmful,

Claim of Policy

An assertion that proposes a particular action, solution, in response to a problem or issue.

Evidence

Facts, examples, observation, research, data or other information used to support a claim or premise.

Quantitative Evidence

numerical or measurable information like statistics and percentages

qualitative evidence

descriptive, non-numerical information drawn from observations, experiences interviews narratives or interpretations

examples/generalizations

an argumentative method that uses specific instances or cases to illustrate or support a broader claim

analogies

an argumentative method that compares two situations, concepts or objects

authority

an argumentative method that uses the knowledge, expertise or testimony of a credible source to support a claim

causality/causal reasoning

an argumentative method that establishes or examines cause and effect relationships between events actions or conditions

qualification/qualifier

act of refining or limiting a claim by recognizing conditions, exceptions, distinctions or degrees

limitation

a weakness, omission, assumption, exception, or condition that restricts the validity, scope, or applicability of an argument

conditional reasoning

a form of reasoning that examines how a conclusion or consequence depends upon particular circumstance or conditions

counterclaim/counterargument

an opposing or alternative position that challenges central claim

steel man

attacking strongest part of an opposing argument

straw man

distorted, exaggerated or oversimplified representation of an opposing argument that makes it easier to attack or dismiss

acknowledgement

act of recognizing an opposing perspective and demonstrating why reasonable people might hold that view

concession

an argumentative strategy in which a writer recognizes that an opposing argument contains a valid point or legitimate concern

rebuttal

a reasoned response to an opposing argument that challenges its claims

refutation

showing how an opposing claim/argument is false

consequences

the potential outcomes, effects or implications of accepting a claim making a decision or following a particular course of action

impact chain

a sequence of logically connected effects demonstrating how one action decision or condition may lead to consequences

weighing

process of comparing competing arguments by evaluating relative significance, likelihood, scope or consequences of their claims.

magnitude

how substantial the consequences of a particular position may be

probability

how likely an outcome/consequence will occur

timeframe

how son a consequence may occur and how long its effcts may last

scope

number of people, groups, institutions, or areas affected by an action, decision or outcome

reversibility

degree to which the consequences of a decision or action can be undone

Feasibility

degree to which a proposed action, policy, or solution can realistically be implemented

Backing

Additional evidence, reasoning, or justification that supports a warrant or strenghtens the logical foundation of an argument