Elements of an Argument

1) Claim: A claim is subjective, meaning it’s based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. It’s a defensible idea. An arguable statement. 

The best claims are effective because the evidence is built on the speaker's knowledge of the rhetorical situation.

There are three types of claims:

  • Fact – true or false, it has evidence, it’s logical. something that can be proved or disproved with factual evidence. 

Example: Decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from car exhaust, manufacturing processes, fertilizers, and landfills, while slowing deforestation, may help slow the process of global warming.

  • Value – argues that something is good or bad, or that one thing is better than another thing.

Example: It’s better to apply good nutritional choices at home than teach them at school, because good nutrition then becomes ingrained in the child’s experience.

  • Policy –  certain conditions should exist, or that something should or should not be done, in order to solve a problem.

Example: Just as smoking ads have been banned in order to decrease the urge to engage in unhealthy behavior, soda ads should be banned for the same reason.

“Should” → Moral obligation/policy

2) Reasoning: based on the type of evidence used. It’s your “Why”

3) Evidence: the support for claims and reasons.

  • Examples – Specific instances or cases that demonstrate a general idea or concept. 

For example, when Dimitri Williams talks about the social aspect of VR, providing examples of games that are successful in that aspect such as “Pokemon Go”

  • Details – Specific information or facts that provide more context or support for an argument or claim. 

For example, "The study included details such as age, gender, and socioeconomic background to ensure accurate representation of the participants." (and those details are used as evidence)

  • Expert Opinion – The viewpoint or analysis of an authority or knowledgeable individual in a particular field. To support a position or hypothesis. 

For example, "According to Dr. Smith, a renowned psychologist, it is crucial to address mental health issues in the workplace."

  • Personal Observations – First-hand observations or experiences of an individual. 

For example, "During my trip to Japan, I noticed that people were extremely polite and respectful towards each other."

  • Personal Experiences – Real-life events or situations that an individual has encountered. 

For example, "My personal experience with adopting a rescue dog taught me the value of patience and unconditional love."

  • Testimony – Statements or accounts given by witnesses or experts to provide evidence or support for a claim. 

For example, "The victim's testimony played a crucial role in convicting the accused of the crime."

Advertisements for weight loss products often employ testimony. “I lost 30 lbs in a week.” People who have “used the product” talk about how great it is, how easy, and how much weight they’ve lost.

  • Experiment – A controlled procedure carried out to gather data and test a hypothesis. 

For example, "In the experiment, two groups of participants were given different diets to determine the effects on their overall health."

  • Research – The systematic investigation and study of a subject to gather information and support an argument or claim. Appeal to logic and support claim

For example, "Extensive research has shown that regular meditation has numerous benefits for mental well-being."

  • The purpose of using statistics, research, and expert opinion: To persuade the audience using logic and establish credibility

  • Using evidence and example enhance sentence development by providing concrete support and illustrating key points

  • Writing shorter sentence create a more direct and urgent tone