{5 THINGS} ARGUMENTATION

e v e r y comm. student should know about

THEORY *

#1 WHAT THE

HECK IS IT?

ARGUMENTATION THEORY, or argumentation, is the study of how conclusions can be reached through L O G I C A L R E A S O N I N G *

>>>>

which means

CLAIMS ( sound o r no t )

are based on premises

*  

IT INCLUDES the arts and sciences of

CIVIL DEBATE >>

>> CONVERSATION

DIALOGUE  

>> PERSUASION

and…

#2 WHO USES IT?

EVERYBODY ARGUES

{ the truth is } *

>>>>>>> the difference is the TYPE of argument >>>>>>>>>>  

CONVERSATIONAL ARGUMENTATION

THERE IS…

scientific and mathematical argumentation

LEGAL ARGUMENTATION

POLITICAL ARGUMENTATION

…and  finally  

#3 SO WHAT?

why argue? >> when  it  comes  down  to  it,  we  

argue  because  we  want  something…  

… and in order

to get what you

want, you need

to negotiate with

other people…

Improving your communication skills, i.e., improving your arguing skills, will help

so, to ‘GET WHAT YOU WANT’ is one reason for arguing

>>

Other reasons to argue are to find out what you believe and

what other people believe and why. { }

#4 CRITICISM

argumentation

theory

had its

origins in foundationalism,

(a field of philosophy)

*

It sought to find the grounds for claims in the forms (logic) and materials (factual laws) of a universal system of knowledge

>>>>>

BUT…

Aristotle's systematic philosophy

They QUESTIONED and ultimately DISCARDED the idea that argument premises take their soundness from formal PHILOSOPHICAL systems

*

THUS THE FIELD BROADENED

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  and this caused an ongoing debate

some scholars construe the term "argument" narrowly

as exclusively written discourse or

even discourse in which all premises

are explicit { }

while others construe the term "argument" broadly

to include spoken and even nonverbal discourse to include spoken and even nonverbal discourse { }

The dispute between broad and narrow theorists is of long standing and is unlikely to be settled.

*

#5 HOW TO ARGUE

BETTER

Unlike arming people with guns

or bombs, no one will die from being

armed with the techniques of

argument.

“

” -Michael Gilbert

KEY POINTERS for arguing effectively >>>

*

Do you believe you can achieve your purpose?

know why you are arguing

What is your purpose?

{ }

know WHAT you are

arguing about

{

} What is YOUR claim? What is your co-arguer’s claim? What reasons support your claim?

DON’T ARGUE WITH FANATICS! (Assume that people have reasons for their beliefs: Do not argue with people who don’t, and limit your arguing

when people don’t have "good" reasons)

>>

just listen, argue, listen, argue

…and finally

LISTEN!

If you can restate what they said and show you really did listen, the co-arguer is

more likely to listen to you!

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Image  credit  in  order  of  which  they  appear