1. Argumentation Strategies
The Structure of Arguments

2. The Toulmin Model Data Claim Warrant
The argument you are trying to make
Evidence (logos)
Ties your evidence to your argument

3. Types of Claims Fact Value Policy
Makes a statement about something that can be proven true or false
The New York Islanders won first pick in the draft lottery.
Value
Suggests that one idea is favorable over another
An object or an action is important to or cherished by an individual or society
National security is more important than personal freedom.
Policy
Calls for a change to the established program
The federal government should guarantee healthcare for all of its citizens.

4. Reasoning from Evidence
Argumentation involves reasoning or logic
This is the WARRANT
Types of reasoning:
Inductive
Deductive
Sign
Analogy
Cause-effect

5. Inductive Reasoning
Bases a general conclusion on an examination of several specific instances or examples
ESL programs in five states failed to improve standardized test scores for language minority students. Therefore, the same results would occur with a federal plan based on the same principles.
Test your inductive reasoning:
Are there a sufficient number of examples?
Are the examples typical?
Does the conclusion allow for exceptions?

6. Deductive Reasoning
Takes generally accepted claims and applies them to specific situations in order to prove that what is true in a general sense is also true in a specific case.
The traditional structure is called a SYLLOGISM = major premise (a statement of fact, value, or policy about a general class of situations, events, or people), minor premise (relates specific situations, events, or people to the general class), and a conclusion (the logical step linking the two).
Major premise: The right of privacy is important to our society.
Minor premise: Protection of medical records is a privacy right.
Conclusion: Protection of medical records is important to our society.
Testing your deductive claim:
Is your major premise true or accurate?
Is your minor premise true or accurate?
Do your major and minor premises relate to one another?

7. Sign A way of reaching a logical conclusion based of physical evidence
Think about Law and Order, CSI, etc.
This is helpful for environment debates
Testing for sign
Is the conclusion based on the sign applicable in all instances?
Is it possible to draw more than one conclusion from the sign?

8. Analogies Are comparisons Can be literal or figurative
Literal – compares similar things
If Canada has a health care system that had worked, you could argue that there are sufficient similarities between Canada and the United States to believe that the system would work in the U.S. as well.
Figurative – compares dissimilar things
Cutting federal funds would be the same as cutting off oxygen supply to the body
Use analogies to add emphasis to your argument

9. Cause-Effect
If you are claiming a causal link between two things, you need to prove that one actually causes the other.
Important in establishing the need to change a policy
There is a difference between a causal link and a correlation
Testing cause-effect:
Can you separate cause from effect?
Is the cause strong enough to produce the effect?