1. TEN STEPS to ADVANCED READING
SECOND EDITION
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2. TEN STEPS to ADVANCED READING
SECOND EDITION
TEN STEPS to ADVANCED READING
John Langan
© Townsend Press

3. Chapter 8
ARGUMENT

4. Argumentation is part of our everyday dealings with other people.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Argumentation is part of our everyday dealings with other people. •
In an argument, two parties each present their supporting evidence. •
The goal is to determine who has the more solid evidence to support his or her point of view.
See pages 299 and 300 in textbook

5. CHAPTER 8 Argument
See page 299 in textbook

6. Wife’s supporting evidence
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Wife’s supporting evidence
See page 299 in textbook
In this cartoon, the wife’s supporting evidence is simply that the husband has no say about where they will go for Thanksgiving.

7. 1 2 3 Argumentation is also an important part of much of what we read.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Argumentation is also an important part of much of what we read.
Authors often try to convince us of their opinions and interpretations.
Very often the most important things we must do as critical readers are 1
Recognize the point the author is making. 2
Decide if the author’s support is relevant.
See page 300 in textbook 3
Decide if the author’s support is adequate.

8. The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
A good argument
is one in which a point is stated
Point
and then persuasively and logically supported.
Support
Support
Support
See page 300 in textbook
A Good Argument

9. Point: Evidence suggests that men are more romantic than women.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Here is a point.
Point: Evidence suggests that men are more romantic than women.
You may or may not agree with this point.
But suppose the it is followed by these reasons:
See page 300 in textbook

10. 1 2 3 Point: Evidence suggests that men are more romantic than women.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Evidence suggests that men are more romantic than women. 1
Studies indicate that men fall in love more easily than women, whereas women fall out of love more easily than men. 2
In interviews, women are more likely than men to say they would marry someone they didn’t love. 3
Research shows that men hold more romantic beliefs—such as “Love lasts forever”—than women do.
See page 300 in textbook
Clearly, these details provide solid support for the point.
Of course, you might still not agree and want to find evidence that supports your own view.

11. Should gay marriages be legalized? Should gay marriages be legalized?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Should gay marriages be legalized?
Should gay marriages be legalized?
Should the death penalty exist?
Should the death penalty exist?
Many issues in everyday life are the subject of argument.
Should mercy killing be permitted?
Should mercy killing be permitted?
See page 300 in textbook
Is single life preferable to married life?
Is single life preferable to married life?
Should contraceptives be distributed in schools?
Should contraceptives be distributed in schools?
Should abortions be banned?
Should abortions be banned?

12. Should gay marriages be legalized? Should the death penalty exist?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Should gay marriages be legalized?
Should the death penalty exist?
For these and many other issues, there are no easy answers, and arguments about them are bound to persist.
Should mercy killing be permitted?
Given the complexity of important issues, we must try our best to think as clearly as we can about them. We must decide what we individually think after close consideration of all the evidence available.
Given the complexity of important issues, we must try our best to think as clearly as we can about them.
See page 301 in textbook
Is single life preferable to married life?
Should contraceptives be distributed in schools?
Should abortions be banned?

13. Here is another example of point and support.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Here is another example of point and support.
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
What is your point of view? Is it OK for adults to hit children at times or not?
See page 301 in textbook

14. CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
See page 301 in textbook
ANSWER: A good way
The next slide shows the answer.
Does statement A support the idea that hitting children is a good way to discipline them? Or that it is not a good way to discipline them?

15. CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
See page 301 in textbook

16. Which view does statement B support?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
See page 301 in textbook
ANSWER: Not a good way
The next slide shows the answer.
Which view does statement B support?

17. CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
See page 301 in textbook

18. Which view does statement C support?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
C. Disciplinary methods other than spanking, such as a “time out,” withdrawing a privilege, or reasoning with the child, just drag out the punishment. It’s better to just get it over with.
See page 301 in textbook
ANSWER: A good way
The next slide shows the answer.
Which view does statement C support?

19. CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
C. Disciplinary methods other than spanking, such as a “time out,” withdrawing a privilege, or reasoning with the child, just drag out the punishment. It’s better to just get it over with.
See page 301 in textbook
C. Disciplinary methods other than spanking, such as a “time out,” withdrawing a privilege, or reasoning with the child, just drag out the punishment. It’s better to just get it over with.

20. Which view does statement D support?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
C. Disciplinary methods other than spanking, such as a “time out,” withdrawing a privilege, or reasoning with the child, just drag out the punishment. It’s better to just get it over with.
See page 301 in textbook
ANSWER: Not a good way
The next slide shows the answer.
D. Children who are spanked learn that hitting is the appropriate response to anger. They are likely to become violent adults, to abuse their partners, and to hit and even abuse their own children.
Which view does statement D support?

21. CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
Point: Hitting children at times is (or is not) a good way to discipline them.
A good way to discipline
Not a good way to discipline
A. Hitting a child is the quickest and most effective way to let the child know that he or she has done wrong.
B. Hitting a child teaches him that bigger people are allowed to hurt smaller people. This can lead to the child becoming a bully to smaller children.
C. Disciplinary methods other than spanking, such as a “time out,” withdrawing a privilege, or reasoning with the child, just drag out the punishment. It’s better to just get it over with.
D. Children who are spanked learn that hitting is the appropriate response to anger. They are likely to become violent adults, to abuse their partners, and to hit and even abuse their own children.
See page 301 in textbook
D. Children who are spanked learn that hitting is the appropriate response to anger. They are likely to become violent adults, to abuse their partners, and to hit and even abuse their own children.

22. The Point and Support of an Argument
CHAPTER 8 Argument
The Basics of Argument: Point and Support
The Point and Support of an Argument
The aim is to construct a valid argument—
Point
one supported by logical facts, examples, reasons, or other evidence.
Support: Facts
Support: Examples
Support: Reasons
See page 302 in textbook
Valid Argument

23. Support that really applies to the point
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Once you identify the point and support of an argument, you need to decide if each piece of evidence is relevant—in other words, if it really applies to the point.
Relevant
Support
Support that really applies to the point
See page 306 in textbook is

24. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
In their desire to win an argument, people often bring up irrelevant support.
For example, in asking you to vote for him, a political candidate might say, “I’ll vote to lower your taxes.”
Point: You should elect me.
Support: I’ll vote for lower taxes.
Not Relevant
See pages 306 and 307 in textbook
Problem: Lower taxes not possible because of the state’s financial problems.

25. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Which of the statements below is relevant support for this point about sharks and humans?
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks.
A. Some species of sharks are able to detect as little as one part per million of blood in seawater.
B. Shark-fin soup is considered a great delicacy in the Far East, and hundreds of thousands of sharks have been slaughtered simply for their fins.
See page 307 in textbook
ANSWER: B
The next two slides show and explain the answer.

26. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks.
A. Some species of sharks are able to detect as little as one part per million of blood in seawater. 3
B. Shark-fin soup is considered a great delicacy in the Far East, and hundreds of thousands of sharks have been slaughtered simply for their fins.
See page 307 in textbook
The fact that so many sharks have been slaughtered is relevant support for the idea that sharks should fear humans.

27. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks.
A. Some species of sharks are able to detect as little as one part per million of blood in seawater.
Not Relevant 3
B. Shark-fin soup is considered a great delicacy in the Far East, and hundreds of thousands of sharks have been slaughtered simply for their fins.
See page 307 in textbook
Statement A is an interesting fact about sharks, but it does not support that idea that humans are a threat to them.

28. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Which of these two statements below is relevant support for the point about sharks and humans?
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks.
C. Some populations of large sharks have fallen by as much as 90 percent due to accelerated fishing activities in recent decades.
D. Sharks can range in size from hand-sized pygmy sharks to plankton-eating whale sharks which grow to a maximum length of 49 feet.
See page 307 in textbook
ANSWER: C
The next two slides show and explain the answer.

29. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks. 3
C. Some populations of large sharks have fallen by as much as 90 percent due to accelerated fishing activities in recent decades.
D. Sharks can range in size from hand-sized pygmy sharks to plankton-eating whale sharks which grow to a maximum length of 49 feet.
See page 307 in textbook
The fact that fishing has caused a some shark populations to fall is relevant support for the idea that sharks should fear humans.

30. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
Point: Despite their fearsome image, sharks have more to fear from humans than humans do from sharks. 3
C. Some populations of large sharks have fallen by as much as 90 percent due to accelerated fishing activities in recent decades.
D. Sharks can range in size from hand-sized pygmy sharks to plankton-eating whale sharks which grow to a maximum length of 49 feet.
See page 307 in textbook
Not Relevant
Statement D is not relevant because it only describes the range of size of sharks.

31. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Relevant Support
The statements about sharks being slaughtered for their fins and their numbers being reduced by fishing…
Humans are a danger to sharks
…offer support that really applies to the point that humans are a danger to sharks.
Sharks slaughtered
for their fins
Shark populations
reduced by fishing
See page 307 in textbook
Relevant Support

32. Support That Is Not Relevant
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Humans are a danger to sharks
Relevant Support
The statements that sharks can detect small amounts of blood and that they vary greatly in size…
…do not support the point that humans are a danger to sharks.
Sharks vary in size
Sharks detect small
amounts of blood
Humans are a danger to sharks
See page 307 in textbook
Support That Is Not Relevant

33. Support substantial enough to prove the point
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
A valid argument must include not only relevant support but also adequate support—in other words, support substantial enough to prove the point
Adequate
Support
Support substantial enough to prove the point
See page 310 in textbook is

34. Point: Abortion is wrong.
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Point: Abortion is wrong.
Support: My sister had an abortion and has regretted it ever since.
Not Adequate
See page 310 in textbook
It would not be valid to argue “Abortion is wrong” if this were one’s only support.
Such an important issue would require more support than the attitude and experience of a single relative.

35. • • • • Read these four supporting reasons. Support:
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Read these four supporting reasons.
Support: •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s distracted manner to stress at work. •
An unhappily married man or woman might attribute a distracted manner to a decline in affection. •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s unexpected gift to a desire to show love. •
An unhappily married man or woman might consider an unexpected gift as evidence of guilt about something.
See page 310 in textbook

36. • • • • Support: Which point do the above reasons adequately support?
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Support: •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s distracted manner to stress at work. •
An unhappily married man or woman might attribute a distracted manner to a decline in affection. •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s unexpected gift to a desire to show love. •
An unhappily married man or woman might consider an unexpected gift as evidence of guilt about something.
Which point do the above reasons adequately support? A.
Men or women who surprise their partners with gifts have probably been cheating on them.
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook
ANSWER: B
The next two slides show and explain the answer. B.
Happily and unhappily married spouses tend to interpret their
partners’ behaviors differently. C.
Spouses should give each other gifts more often.

37. CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Support: •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s distracted manner to stress at work. •
An unhappily married man or woman might attribute a distracted manner to a decline in affection. •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s unexpected gift to a desire to show love. •
An unhappily married man or woman might consider an unexpected gift as evidence of guilt about something.
Point: A.
Men or women who surprise their partners with gifts have probably been cheating on them.
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook 3 B.
Happily and unhappily married spouses tend to interpret their
partners’ behaviors differently.
All of the supporting items back up the idea that one partner’s interpretation of the other partner’s behavior can be influenced by whether they are happy or unhappy in the marriage.

38. Not Adequately Supported Not Adequately Supported
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Support: •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s distracted manner to stress at work. •
An unhappily married man or woman might attribute a distracted manner to a decline in affection. •
A happily married man or woman might attribute a spouse’s unexpected gift to a desire to show love. •
An unhappily married man or woman might consider an unexpected gift as evidence of guilt about something.
Point: A.
Men or women who surprise their partners with gifts have probably been cheating on them.
Not Adequately Supported
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook 3 B.
Happily and unhappily married spouses tend to interpret their
partners’ behaviors differently. C.
Spouses should give each other gifts more often.
Not Adequately Supported

39. Adequate Support A valid argument…
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
A valid argument…
Happily and unhappily married spouses tend to
interpret their partners’ behaviors differently.
…must have support that is substantial enough to prove the point.
attributes distracted manner
to decline in affection
Unhappily married—
Happily married—attributes
spouse's distraction to
stress at work
Happily married—attributes
unexpected gift as show
of love
considers unexpected gift
Unhappily married—
evidence of guilt
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook
Adequate Support

40. Support That Is Not Adequate
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
Spouses should give each other gifts more often.
If the evidence…
…is insufficient to support the argument…
Happily married—attributes
spouse's distraction to
stress at work
attributes distracted manner
Unhappily married—
to decline in affection
Happily married—attributes
unexpected gift as show
of love
considers unexpected gift
Unhappily married—
evidence of guilt
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook
Support That Is Not Adequate

41. Support That Is Not Adequate
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
…the point will not stand.
Spouses should give each other gifts more often.
Happily married—attributes
spouse's distraction to
stress at work
attributes distracted manner
Unhappily married—
to decline in affection
Happily married—attributes
unexpected gift as show
of love
considers unexpected gift
Unhappily married—
evidence of guilt
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook
Support That Is Not Adequate

42. Support That Is Not Adequate
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Adequate Support
…the point will not stand.
Spouses should give each
Spouses should give each other gifts more often.
other gifts more often.
The argument is not valid.
Happily married—attributes
unexpected gift as show
of love
See pages 310 and 311 in textbook
Support That Is Not Adequate

43. A Note on Argument in Textbook Writing
CHAPTER 8 Argument
A Note on Argument in Textbook Writing
In most textbook writing, argument takes the form of well-developed ideas or theories.
See page 313 in textbook

44. Well-developed ideas or theories
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Argument in Textbook Writing
Well-developed ideas or theories
Argument:
See page 313 in textbook

45. Well-developed ideas or theories
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Argument in Textbook Writing
Well-developed ideas or theories
Argument:
Support for the argument takes the form of…
Experiments
Surveys
Studies
Expert Testimony
Reasons
Examples
Other Evidence
See page 313 in textbook

46. Well-developed ideas or theories
CHAPTER 8 Argument
Argument in Textbook Writing
Well-developed ideas or theories
Argument:
Experiments
Surveys
Studies
Support:
Expert Testimony
Reasons
Examples
Other Evidence
See page 313 in textbook
Relevant?
Adequate?
Recognizing the author’s points and asking yourself whether the support is relevant and adequate will help you be an involved and critical reader.

47. CHAPTER 8 Argument
See page 314 in textbook