Reading and Evaluating Arguments

Learning Objectives: To recognize the elements of an argument To recognize types of arguments To evaluate arguments To recognize errors in logical reasoning

An argument presents logical reasons and evidence to support a viewpoint

Parts of an Argument ISSUE - problem or controversy about which people disagree CLAIM - the position on the issue SUPPORT - reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted REBUTTAL - opposing viewpoints

Types of Claims CLAIM OF FACT - statement that can be proven or verified by observation or research “Within ten years, destruction of rain forests will cause hundreds of plant and animal species to become extinct.”

Types of Claims CLAIM OF VALUE - states that one thing or idea is better or more desirable than another. “Requiring community service in high school will produce more community-aware graduates.”

Types of Claims CLAIM OF POLICY - suggests what should or ought to be done to solve a problem. “To reduce school violence, more gun and metal detectors should be installed in public schools.”

Types of Support REASON - a general statement that supports a claim. EVIDENCE - consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons, and examples that show why the claim is valid. EMOTIONAL APPEALS - ideas that are targeted toward needs or values that readers are likely to care about.

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Evaluate Types of Evidence - Is it sufficient to support the claim? Personal Experience - may be biased, so do not accept it Examples - should not be used by themselves

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Statistics - Statistical evidence is the kind of data people tend to look for first when trying to prove a point.   can be misused, manipulated or misinterpreted. Example: McDonald’s billboards that say “1 Billion served”; Trident “4 out of 5 dentists agree…”

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Testimonial- Expert statement Commercials that use spokespersons to testify about the quality of a company’s product, lawyers who rely on eye-witness accounts  to win a case, and students who quote an authority in their essays are all using testimonial evidence

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Anecdotal- Personal story or experience; common sense message from life  Anecdotal evidence is evidence that is based on a person’s observations of the world. **

TYPES OF EVIDENCE Analogical (Comparision) – Provides an example that compares the claim to a relevant/shared experience Analogies are mainly useful when dealing with a topic that is under-researched.  If you are on the cutting edge of an issue, you’re the person breaking new ground.  When you don’t have statistics to refer to or other authorities on the matter to quote, you have to get your evidence from somewhere

EXIT TICKET IN YOUR OWN WORDS, explain the four types of evidence that can be used to support a claim in a debate. Helpful link STATISTICAL TESTIMONIAL ANECDOTAL ANALOGICAL *You can write this on notebook paper or type it and submit it through Edmodo/share it as a Google doc