The Art of Argumentation

Getting Started… In your notes (yes, we are taking some notes today) tell me the difference between argument and persuasion. Your response can be brief – three sentences or so and you need to be prepared to share.

What an argument is not… A quarrel or an angry exchange “Spin” (the positive or biased slant that politicians routinely use) Propaganda (information or misinformation spread to support a viewpoint) Contradiction or denial of the opposition

An academic argument is defined as… Taking a debatable position, presenting evidence and using sound logic to convince the audience to accept (or at least consider) your position. Statements of fact or statements of personal preference or taste are not typically suited for an academic argument.

The Argument… in a nutshell A solid argument will typically include three very important things: 1. Claims 2. Evidence 3. Warrants You will want to highlight the definition of each in your notes – these are final exam questions. 

Claims: In argumentative writing the writer presents a claim to the audience Claim: a proposition that conveys the writer’s interpretations or beliefs about something. Claims are not facts but rather conclusions drawn from facts. The truth or validity of a claim can be argued by others and there is always an opposing point of view

Claims: Make sure that when you are developing a claim for a paper, that the following conditions are met: 1. The claim actually conveys your interpretation and is not a statement of fact. 2. The claim(s) can be supported by specific evidence

Claim Statements: A claim statement is typically just your position on the issue posed and a very basic “why” you think that. Example: MRHS seniors are better than any other cohort of seniors because they constantly push to be the best in academics, athletics and the arts.

Evidence and Warrants: Evidence: support or facts that are indisputable because they are grounded in solid, academic, reliable research Evidence is used to support the claim Warrant: logical connection between a claim and the supporting evidence Sometimes the relationship between the claim and the evidence will be obvious and the writer won’t need to expound on the relationship between the two. Sometimes you will need to show the reader the connection

Questions to Ponder… Does being a vegetarian make one morally superior? Is there too much government regulation? Do activist groups go too far in attempting to shame someone into supporting their cause? Did the media make this issue more of an issue than it was?

Questions to Ponder… Example… As a group, discuss each question… Write a claim statement for each question Be prepared to share your group’s statements Example… Being a vegetarian does not make one morally superior because no one person is automatically better than another simply based on what they eat.