Argument Writing What you need to know

Argument Writing In arguments of probability by Stephen Toulmin in The Uses of Argument, arguments must have several elements: 1. a claim- what you believe to be true 2. evidence- an occurrence or writing that supports your claim 3. warrant- explains how the evidence supports your claim 4. backing- supports the warrants 5. qualifications and rebuttals- counter arguments that refute competing claims

Argument Writing Thesis Statement: the last sentence in the first paragraph in which you identify what the rest of your paper contains. Good example: The government has a responsibility to assist its citizens in their time of need. Bad example: I will write about how the government has a responsibility to help its citizens. Your thesis statement should be derived AFTER looking at your data and evidence.

Argument Writing Evidence- what you use to support your claim (thesis statement) Steps to finding evidence: Examine data Ask questions based on the data Reexamine data Try to answer the questions (question phrased as your thesis statement) Data that supports our answer= evidence

Argument Writing Warrants- common sense rules that people accept as generally true: laws, scientific principles or studies, and thoughtfully argued definitions Example: In CSI programs on TV, warrants are established in the first part of the show; for example, fingerprints the suspect left at the crime scene would prove the suspect was there.

Argument Writing Backing: support for the warrants Example: we know that each person’s fingerprints are unique; therefore, fingerprints can show the likelihood of a person being at a crime scene based on their fingerprints at the scene.

Argument Writing Qualifications and Counterarguments- definitions and examples Qualifications are words we use in our paper to show that what we are saying is not absolutely true, but it COULD be true. Examples: probably, very likely, almost certainly, etc. Counterarguments- what the “other side” would argue against you. You need to take what they might say and use it to your advantage.

Argument Writing

Argument Writing Could such a wound come from a fall? Do you think Arthur had a good sense of balance when he went down the stairs? What was Queenie cooking? Can you find a probable murder weapon? Who do you think killed Arthur and how?

“The Lunchroom Murder”

“The Lunchroom Murder” With what hand did the shooter fire the gun? What is the evidence? What is the warrant? Did customers B,C, and D know each other? What are the evidence and warrants? How do the three customers differ in their habits or ways of doing things? What is the evidence and what is the warrant? Which set of footprints are Ernie’s? What is the evidence? What is the warrant? To whom do the set of footprints marked X belong?

“The Lunchroom Murder” How do you know? Who killed Fannin? How do you know? Outline all the evidence and warrants necessary to support this claim.

“The Lunchroom Murder” Evidence (Data) Rule (Warrant) Conclusion (Claim)

“The Lunchroom Murder” After you have answered all the questions, write up an investigator’s report (essay) of the case: Introduction: Describe the scene of the crime and the evidence that you noticed. Body: Explain each piece of evidence in detail and what you believe that evidence shows. For example: Footsteps X step through the wet floor, this probably means… Conclusion: Write your conclusion of the case – who do you think shot Fannin and why do you think that?

Whodunit Essay - Introduction Last Thursday, Fannin was murdered inside Ernie’s Diner. He was found on the floor next to the exit with a fatal bullet wound. The room was empty. Ernie, the only employee, had just one fact: the handprint on the wall belonged to the murderer. Based on the evidence gathered, it seems quite evident that B,C, and D should be arrested. The evidence will show that C was the killer, B and D were accomplices, and A was not involved in the murder at all.

Whodunit Essay – Body # 1 To begin with, we believe the killer was left handed. The handprint on the wall suggests that he was most likely left handed. By looking at the direction of the thumb, we can assume that the killer was leaning against the wall with his right hand. This means that he must have shot the gun with his left hand. Usually, people shoot with their strong hand. Because the shooter shot with his left hand, we can assume the killer was left handed.

Whodunit Essay – Body # 2 If the killer was left handed, C must be the killer. C is the only customer whose silverware and cup are on the left side of the plate. All the other settings are opposite to this. Most people, when they eat, place the silverware and cup on their strong side. Because C’s are on the left, we can assume he was the only left handed person and thus he was the one who shot Fannin with his left hand.

Whodunit Essay – Body # 3 Along with C, B and D should be arrested because they were with him. The total of all three of their checks equaled $8.75. This was the number on the cash register when the police arrived. We can assume, that B,C, and D decided to pay together. Under almost all circumstances, people do not pay together unless they are together. Therefore, because they decided to pay together, we can assume B, C, and D knew each other, thus making B and D accomplices.

Whodunit Essay – Body # 4 So what about A? We can assume A was not with the other three and, therefore, was no part of the murder. We see his footprints leading from his chair to the kitchen. On top of this, his footprints are oddly shaped – different from the others. We believe that this odd shape of footprints was the result of him tip-toeing out of the dining room and into the kitchen. We can assume, then, that A became scared when he/she realized what was about to happen and tried to sneak out of the way and into the kitchen. A person who sneaks away to hide is not likely going to be involved in the murder.

Whodunit Essay - Conclusion After a careful review of the evidence, it is clear that the triggerman was C, and B and D were with him. From the handprint we can deduce the killer was left-handed; from the silverware we can deduce that C was the only left-handed person in the diner, thus making him the killer; from the check ($8.75) we can deduce that B and D were with C, making them partially guilty; and from the footprints, we can deduce that A had nothing to do with the murder. In conclusion, we need to spend our efforts trying to locate the three criminals so that we can bring them to justice.