ARGUMENTATION

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ARGUMENTATION

• Giving Your Ideas Power

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When I say argument, what do you think?

• Do you see two people shouting or even screaming
  at one another trying to browbeat the other into
  submission?

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Wellthat is not exactly what is meant by the
term argumentation.

• So then, what do we mean by the term
  argumentation?

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An argument

• States a specific position and provides
  supporting points for that position
• Makes a main claim and provides supporting
  evidence to prove that claim
• Draws a conclusion and gives specifics reasons
  for that conclusion

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Notice that an argument must have two parts

• Supporting
• Points
• Supporting Evidence
• Reasons

• Specific
• Position
• Main Claim
• Conclusion

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Visually, an argument looks like this
Conclusion
Reasons
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Remember arguments have two distinct parts.
THIS BECAUSE OF THAT
Those supporting points That supporting
evidence Those reasons
This specific position This main claim This
conclusion
BECAUSE OF
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Now Lets Practice..
Remember we are identifying the parts of the
argument. Whether we agree or disagree with the
position does not matter. Evaluating the validity
of arguments will come later.
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Example 1
Fast food restaurants should be allowed in
schools because students have the right to decide
what happens in and to their bodies.
This Because of That
Students have the right to decide what happens
to their bodies.
Fast food should be allowed.
Because of
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Example 2
Smoking should be banned because it is harmful to
everyones health.
This Because of That
Smoking should be banned.
It is harmful to everyones health.
Because of
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Strategies for spotting conclusions

• Know where to look for conclusions.
• Conclusions usually appear in one of two places
• Introductory Paragraphs
• Concluding Paragraphs

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Look for indicator words that signal a conclusion

• Therefore
• Thus
• Hence
• So
• In conclusion
• As a result
• In short
• The point is

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Example 3
Nuclear power plants are hazardous to human life
and the environment. Thus, these plants should
no longer be built.
This Because of That
Nuclear power plants should no longer be built.
Nuclear power plants are hazardous to human life
and the environment.
Because of
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If no conclusion or main claim is stated

• construct the conclusion by finding the main
  question that the essay
  answers.
• Ask yourself What is this writer trying to
  prove or show?

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Strategies for spotting reasons

• Know where to look for reasons.
• Reasons usually appear in the body of an essay.
• Reasons may include facts, surveys, statistics,
  value judgments, and general opinions.

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Look for indicator words that signal a reasons

• Because
• Since
• On account of
• For
• In view of the fact that
• For the reason that

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If reasons seem unclear to you

• Find the conclusion first.
• Then ask yourself, Why?
• Any sentence in the essay that tells why a writer
  believes his conclusion to be true will be a
  reason.
• This strategy will help you focus
  
  
  
• in on the writers reasons.

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Example 4
On account of his poor grades and in view of the
fact that he has not saved his own money, Jim
should not be allowed to go on the spring break
trip.
This Because of That
Jim should not be allowed to go on the spring
break trip.

1. He has made poor grades.
2. He has not saved his own money.

Because of
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Now that we have looked at simple arguments,
lets look further.

• Basic argumentative statements can be linked with
  others to form complex argumentative structures.
• Thus a scaffold of reasons and conclusions is
  built that can deal with complex issues.

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Mini-arguments

• Sometimes the conclusion of one argument becomes
  the reason for another argument.
• This is how the scaffold is formed, as one
  argument supports the next argument.

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Look at this example
John shouldnt run for treasurer.
He doesnt know how to handle money.
Just yesterday he deposited money into the wrong
account.
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Now you try
We shouldnt buy that new building set for Jimmy
because he hasnt learned to take care of the
toys he already has. Just yesterday, he shoved
all his toys into the closet or kicked them under
the bed. Besides, I dont think hes old enough
yet for that set. The box says its for 8 to 10
year olds, and Jimmy is only 4.
Conclusion
Reason 2
Reason 1
Mini-argument
Mini-argument
Mini-argument
Mini-argument
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We shouldnt buy that new building set for Jimmy.
He is not old enough for this set.
He hasnt learned to take care of his toys.
He shoved toys into the closet.
He kicked toys under the bed.
The box says 8 to 10 year olds.
Jimmy is only 4.
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Now that you are skilled, lets try one with a
mini-argument
Your scaffold will look like this
Make this scaffold on the back of your exercise
sheet.
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Smoking is bad for your health. Heart disease
and lung disease occur at higher rates for those
who smoke when compared to those who dont smoke.
Cancer is another threat as well. Also, smoking
can be unpleasant socially. Your clothes have
that stale smoke odor and unfortunately so does
your breath. Many people just dont want to
spend much time around smokers. Lastly, smoking
costs too much. Cigarettes arent cheap, and
then you have the cost of whitening treatments
for your stained teeth. As such, Mom, I really
think you should quit smoking.
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Solution
Mom should quit smoking.
Bad for your health
Unpleasant socially
Expensive
Cigarettes arent cheap.
Odor on clothes
Heart Disease
Bad breath
Cost of whitening treatments.
Lung Disease
People dont want to be around you
Cancer
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Now that you understand how arguments are
structured

• Pick a topic for your business letter and
  organize your arguments.
• Remember to use effective logical and emotional
  persuasive techniques!!!!!!!