Arguments (lines of reasoning)

ann winter

Persuasion – Argument checklist

State a point of view (POV) in 1 brief, clear sentence Offer evidence or examples to support your pov Source of evidence eg evidence hierarchy/irrefutable Consider contradictions/contrasting pov Demonstrate convincing why your pov is the best

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1T7b07I7E&feature=related

Chunk it down

Line of persuasion

Something to persuade us about

E.g. all people should be allowed to smoke anywhere

Reasons/evidenceSmoking isn’t illegal

Millions of people get great pleasure from it

(dates, examples, context, names)

Is there opposing evidence?What would your opponents argue?

Where is there evidence?

Conclusions

Arguments always lead us somewhere i.e. what the arguer wants to persuade us to accept/agree with

May start with ‘Therefore…, so…,in consequence…’

It focuses attention on the relationship between the reasons and conclusions

An argument yes/no?

Unless people invest in computers for their home, they are going to be left behind in the huge IT changes affecting our lives. Computers have become so much cheaper than they used to be. Most children love them.

Children will be able to do their homework much better if they have access to a computer at home. The price of home computers and laptops has fallen considerably in the past 10 years. So parents should buy a computer for their children to use at home.

Children will be able to do their homework much better if they have access to a computer at home. The price of home computers and laptops has fallen considerably in the past 10 years. So parents should buy a computer for their children to use at home.

Explaining/arguing?

The ship comes into port at 7.30pm. Passengers disembark 30 minutes later. Therefore the customs officers will be on duty by 7.55.

Its not a persuasive argument its merely explaining what will be happening

Argument framework

Main argument

Reasons/evidence in favour

1

2

3

4

Evidence and examples

1

2

3

4

Opposing evidence

1

2

3

Reasons and evidence

1

2

3

Reasons why my arguments are stronger than opposing ones

Conclusions

Argument/contradiction/disagreement

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM

Argument glossary

Assertions – unsupported statements Internal consistency – all parts contribute to

the conclusion Logical consistency – each linked to previous

building up a case Line of reasoning – a set of reasons presneted

in logical order Premise – propositions believed to be tru and

used as bases for argument can be false Proposition – statements believed to be true

Structure a line of reasoning

Argument:Opening sentence- argument: First, first of all; to begin with; initially, Similarity in evidence: equally, likewise, in the same way, indeed,

correspondingly, in the same lineStronger reinforcing similarity: furthermore, moreover, indeed, what is

moreReinforcing with different reasons: also, in addition, as well as, not onlyAlternative evidence: alternatively, a different perspective on this.., others

argue that.., it might be argued that..,Rebutting alternative evidence: however, on the other hand,

nevertheless, in any case, despite this, in spite of this, even thoughReporting verbs: suggest, argue, claim, propose, think, describe, note, analyse, discuss,

show, explain, point out, demonstrate, report, developContrasting: by contrast, on the other hand, in factConcluding: therefore, in conclusion, thus, from this we can infer/deduce

Toulmin model

1. Argument = CLAIM

2. Reasons = GROUNDS

3. Premise = WARRANT

4. Provenance of warrant = BACKING

Triangle model

Then – position/conclusion

Since -evidence

Because - reason

Mitchell S & Riddle M 2003 Improving the quality of argument in Higher Education

Middlesex University London

Flawed reasoning

No relationship/correlation between trends Lack of necessary conditions Unwarranted leaps Emotive language Attacking authors

In conclusion

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G40OEBuIZdM