1. Critical Thinking: A User’s Manual
Chapter 12
Constructing Arguments

2. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument.

3. Formulating Your Argument
Brainstorm ideas.
Use Formal Analysis to outline your argument.
Avoid fallacies.

4. Your turn!
What fallacies must you avoid?

5. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument.

6. Introducing Your Argument
Grab the reader’s attention without being misleading.
Identify the issue and set out the context.
Clearly state your conclusion.
Summarize your premises.

7. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument. Step 3: Support your conclusion.

8. Supporting Your Conclusion
Identify each of the main premises and state them as claims.
Provide reasons, evidence, and/or examples that support each premise.
Avoid fallacies.
Use credible sources.

9. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument. Step 3: Support your conclusion. Step 4: Consider objections.

10. Consider Objections
Accurately represent the strongest argument against your view.
Effectively reply to the objection without committing a fallacy.

11. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument. Step 3: Support your conclusion. Step 4: Consider objections. Step 5: Conclude your argument.

12. Summarizing Your Argument
Repeat your main conclusion.
Restate your main premises in the same order they appear but using different language.
Suggest one important larger implication of your argument.

13. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument. Step 3: Support your conclusion. Step 4: Consider objections. Step 5: Conclude your argument. Step 6: Cite your sources.

14. Citing Your Sources
Use the citation style appropriate for your discipline.
Accurately follow citation style guidelines.
Ensure all references are credited.

15. Writing an Argumentative Essay
Step 1: Outline your argument. Step 2: Introduce your argument. Step 3: Support your conclusion. Step 4: Consider objections. Step 5: Conclude your argument. Step 6: Cite your sources. Step 7: Proofread your essay.