Evaluating Arguments

Weighing Evidence In an , a writer or speaker develops a and tries to the reader or listener to accept that position. Whether or not the audience is depends upon the of the evidence presented. argument position convince persuaded quality

You argue Daily! For example, you might want to persuade your parents to extend your curfew on the weekend. How would you go about convincing them to do so? Which pieces of evidence below would be most likely to get them to agree to a later curfew? In other words, which would have the greatest quality (value and worth)?

Check all the actions that could be effective in making your argument. 1. Explain that all the ninth graders at your school have later curfews than you do. 2. Remind them that you have never violated your current curfew. 3. Tell them that they are ruining your social life by making you come home so early. 4. Say that they are treating you like a baby. 5. Cite a reliable research study showing that there is no correlation between teenage curfew time and car accidents. Check all the actions that could be effective in making your argument.

Unsupported assertions are not convincing. A minimal argument must have a claim (a debatable statement) that is supported by at least one reason. Unsupported assertions are not convincing.

TYPES of ASSERTIONS Unsupported assertion: Plastic bags should be banned at grocery checkouts. Supported assertion: Plastic bags should be banned at grocery checkouts because many of them end up in landfills and contribute to pollution.

Evidence for Support Type of evidence Example Personal experience At least three times a week for two semesters, I have been unable to find a parking space for my motorcycle. Anecdote Several of the my best friends expressed similar frustration; one even sold her motorcycle. Fact (statistics) The ratio of car to motorcycle parking spaces on campus is 200 to 1, whereas the ratio of cars-to-motorcycles registered on campus is 25 to 1. Expert opinion (authority) The campus police chief, in an interview with the college newspaper, indicated that there are not enough parking spaces for students trying to park motorcycles.

Weighing Evidence Strong helps a reader form a conclusion. evidence the of evidence is Important whether you are reading or writing or presenting or listening to an . evidence Weighing value and worth argument

cOPY THE CHART IN YOUR NOTES Fill in the right-hand column to analyze the argument and evidence. The first row has been completed as an example for you.

Complete the chart using the excerpt White Gray Black

How to Evaluate Arguments… STRONG Vs. WEAK