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What is argument?

What is argument?. Beyond hair pulling, dish throwing, yelling, and other in-your-face actions. Definitions of “argument”. A process of reasoning using evidence and proof Discourse about controversial issues

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What is argument?

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  1. What is argument? Beyond hair pulling, dish throwing, yelling, and other in-your-face actions

  2. Definitions of “argument” • A process of reasoning using evidence and proof • Discourse about controversial issues • Defending a value judgment—testing ideas about good and bad, right and wrong, esp when facts don’t help decide • Proposing solutions for a problem • Challenging other people’s solutions

  3. Parts of an argument • What do you notice (observe, experience)? • What are you trying to prove? • Where are you coming from?

  4. 1. Claim: what are you trying to prove? • May sound like a thesis statement • 5 main types

  5. Claims of fact • Facts are never neutral • Facts don’t speak for themselves • Facts require interpretation • Claims of fact attempt to prove something is true

  6. Claims of definition • Cicero: “Every rational discussion of anything whatsoever should begin with a definition in order to make clear what is the subject of dispute.” • Establishes what writer and reader can agree on

  7. Claims of cause • Explains the “why” something happened • Demonstrates basis, motive, background • Justifies outcomes, results, effects • Focuses on the past

  8. Claims of value • Make a judgement (e.g. dis/approval, right/wrong, good/bad, un/desirable) • Individual or represents a group • Focuses on the present

  9. Claims of policy • Emphasizes “shoulds and oughts” • Looks for solutions to problems • Focuses on the future

  10. 2. Evidence: what do you have to go on? • Toulmin: “something that tends to prove: grounds for belief” • Can be observations, eyewitness accounts • Documentation (letters, diaries, memos) • Opinions, expert testimony, interpretations

  11. Evaluating evidence • Is it up to date? • Is it sufficient to persuade? • Does it come from a trustworthy source? • Is it consistent, coherent, relevant, clear?

  12. Evaluating evidence • Is there enough evidence? • Are you as a reader persuaded? • Is the source qualified to give an opinion? • Is the source biased?

  13. Evaluating evidence • Is it relevant? • Is the example truly representative or does it fit something else better?

  14. 3. Warrants: where are you coming from? • Values • Underlying assumptions • Beliefs • “what makes people think and/or act as they do”

  15. How the Recommendation Report Argues • You make claims about what the client should do (steps to take) • Present evidence supporting your claim(s) • Shape your report according to what you know about the client’s warrants--and your own

  16. Organizing Reports that Persuade/Work • Overview--address the audience, summarize claims, establish your credibility, introduce claims • Analyses--present evidence (data, research, survey results) • Recommendations--steps to be followed, persuades claims • Cost Analyses • List of Resources--MLA (websites, interviews, texts and materials, sources) • Appendices--samples, data bases, additional data

  17. Questions?

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