CT2a Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and Reasons

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CT2a Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• Argument an attempt to persuade the reader to
  accept something. An argument must have a
  conclusion and at least one reason.
• Conclusion The conclusion of an argument is a
  statement of something the writer wants the
  reader to accept based on the reason(s) given.
• Reason A statement that aims to persuade the
  reader to accept the conclusion.

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CT2b Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• Example of an argument
• We are short of money this week. Beans on toast
  is cheap. We had better have beans on toast for
  tea today
• We are short of money and Beans on toast is
  cheap act jointly as two reasons to support the
  conclusion We had better have beans on toast
  for tea today.
• Reasons can act separately of jointly to support
  the conclusion.

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CT2c Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• A Critical Thinking argument is only one use of
  language and you should not confuse with other
  uses
• Giving an account of an event
• Expressing an opinion
• Explaining something
• Asking questions
• Imparting information
• Giving instructions
• Expressing humour
• Telling stories
• Rhetoric

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CT2d Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• CLAIMS No one is trying to persuade you!
• A claim is a statement or judgement that can be
  challenged.
• A claim can be similar to a conclusion to an
  argument but without the reasoning to support it.
• Example Taxes are too high in this country
• A claim can be turned into an argument when a
  reason(s) is added.
• Example Because many people cheat on their
  income tax returns, taxes are too high in this
  country

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CT2e Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• ARGUMENT INDICATORS A word or short phrase that
  helps the reader to identify the elements
  (reasons and conclusion) of an argument
• Conclusion indicator words include
• Therefore So Thus It follows that Should
  Ought Consequently.
• Reason indicator words include
• Because As Since Due to Such as.
• These are only indicators and do not show
  conclusively that the passage contains an
  argument
• In any argument you must first find the
  conclusion then one or more reasons that supports
  it.

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CT2f Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• Argument indicators can be added to check whether
  an argument is present
• Because test Insert Because to check for
  reasons.
• Therefore test Insert Therefore to check for
  the conclusion.
• Example (Because) The most popular meal in the
  UK is now chicken tikka masala, and (because)
  spaghetti bolognese has replaced sausages and
  mash as a staple family meal. (therefore) we
  should re-think our view of what constitutes
  classic British food.

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CT2g Recognising Arguments, Conclusions and
Reasons

• The importance of PRECISION and ACCURACY in
  Critical Thinking.
• In some sections of the paper you will be asked
  to identify certain elements (reasons and
  conclusion) of an argument and you must copy them
  down PRECISELY. - Leave out a word or a phrase or
  add a word of a phrase and you will be penalised.
• Identifying the elements of an argument simply
  means matching the element label to the right
  section of text PRECISELY.