Logos

Argumentation

ARGUMENTATION

Argumentation is a form of instrumental communication relying on reasoning and proof to influence belief or behavior through to use of spoken or written messages

Presumption

Presumption identifies existing beliefs, policies, practices, or institutions

Presumption is determined by prevailing beliefs of the audience

Presumption is a decision rule that determines what the advocate must prove in testing the proposition as a hypothesis

Presumption only describes It does not judge the value or lack ofvalue to the existing beliefs, practices, policies, or institutionspresently occupying the ground

Burden of proof

The advocate has the responsibility to prove the argument this is the burden of proof

In fulfilling the burden of proof, present beliefsand behaviors described by presumption are judged and evaluated based on the available evidence and an alternative pattern of thought or action is proposed.

Prima Facie Case

The advocate has the responsibility of presenting prima facie case, one that stands at face value and is consistent and complete

The form and content of the argument determines its face value

A prima facie case must be both topical, within bounds and inherent, having; cause, permanence, and reform

Presentation of a prima facie case causes the suspension of presumption unless it is successfully challenged

Propositions

The proposition is a statement that identifies the argumentative groundand points to a change in belief or behavior

Types of Propositions

Propositions of FactPropositions of Value Propositions of Definitions Propositions of Policy

Rules of Definition:

The Inclusionary RuleThe Exclusionary RuleThe Adaptation RuleThe Neutrality Rule The Specificity RuleThe Clarity Rule

Terms needing Definition

Equivocal termsVague terms Technical terms New termsCoined terms

The Toulmin Model

The Toulmin Model Primary Triad

Claim: is a conclusion that does not stand alone but requires further proof before the audience is willing to accept it as verified

Grounds: are information of fact or opinion used to provide verification for the claim; commonly known by the generic label evidence

Warrant: is the reasoning that justifies the mental leap from grounds to claim, certifying that given the grounds, the claim is true or probable

The Toulmin Model Secondary Triad

Backing: provides the 'credentials'that help establish the legitimacy of the inferential leap from grounds to claim

Qualifiers: show the amount, or degree, of force that a claim possesses

Rebuttals: limit claims, showing circumstances under which they may not be true and anticipating objections to the claim

Types of Evidence

Examples and illustrations Statistics Scientific evidence Artifacts PremisesOpinions

Tests of Evidence Examples and illustrations

Source qualifications Data accuracyOriginality of observation Recency of observation Attitude of the observer

Tests of EvidenceStatistical evidence

Source reliability, Statistical accuracyComparable unitsData significance

Tests of EvidenceScientific Evidence

Generalizability of setting and subjectsVariable control and manipulationConsistency with other findings

Tests of EvidenceArtifacts

Genuineness Representativeness

Tests of EvidencePremises

Is there reason to believe that circumstances will not changein such a way as to invalidate the premise

Tests of EvidenceOpinions

Source Expertise, Source BiasFactual basis of the opinion

General Tests of Evidence

Accuracy Recency Quality Sufficiency Representativeness,

Clarity, Consistency Internal Consistency External Relevance Audience

acceptability