What is an Argument?

Arguments, Explanations and Other Uses of Language

Argument (common definition)

• Quarrel• Disagreement• Verbal Dispute

Argument (df)1

• An argument is a connected series of statements or propositions, some of which are intended to provide support, justification or evidence for the truth of another statement or proposition.

• Arguments consist of one or more premises and a conclusion.

• The premises are those statements that are taken to provide the support or evidence; the conclusion is that which the premises allegedly support.

Argument (academic)

• To give an argument is to offer a set of reasons or evidence in support of a conclusion

• Abortion is wrong because all killing is wrong

• Premise: All killing is wrong

• Conclusion: Abortion is wrong

• (1) If there is evidence that the death penalty deters murders, then we should institute the death penalty. (2) In fact, there is abundant evidence that the death penalty does deter murder. (3) Therefore, we should institute the death penalty

• Premise 1: If there is evidence that the death penalty deters murders, then we should institute the death penalty.

• Premise 2: In fact, there is abundant evidence that the death penalty does deter murder.

• Conclusion: Therefore, we should institute the death penalty

• An argument will usually consist of at least two (2) premises

• Often, there will be additional material besides the premise and conclusion in the passage

Explanation

In an explanation, one or more of the statements is intended to clarify another statement.

We will call the statement to be explained the Explandum and the statement that clarifies the Explanator

• A: Why did this metal expand?

• B: It was heated and all metals expand when heated.

• The [1] metal expanded [2] because it was heated

• Explandum: the metal expanded

• Explanator: the metal was heated

• (a)The metal expanded BECAUSE it was heated

• (b) Abortion is wrong BECAUSE it is murder

• (a)The metal expanded BECAUSE it was heated

• [explanation: noncontroversial claim about which there is no disagreement]

• (b) Abortion is wrong BECAUSE it is murder

• [argument: controversial claim about which there is much disagreement]

Argument vs. Explanation

• In an explanation there is no attempt to persuade or convince, only to clarify and explicate (e.g. science, medicine, personal matters)

• The subject matter of the explanation is, generally speaking, not anything about which there is disagreement or debate

• The president won the election because he received more votes than his opponent

• The president won the election because his opponent’s policy proposals were too controversial

• The president won the election because he received more votes than his opponent

• [explanation: a simple, noncontroversial statement about why the president won]

• The president won the election because his opponent’s policy proposals were too controversial.

• [argument: claim that can be disputed. People still argue about why his opponent lost]

Information

• In an INFORMATIVE passage, the author is not trying to argue for a claim, nor clarify a point but is simply presenting material for the reader’s consideration

• As of 2011, the minimum wage in the United States was $7.25 an hour. The country with the lowest minimum wage was Mexico, at 55 cents an hour, while the country with the highest minimum wage was Australia at $15.75 an hour

Indicator Words

Premise Indicators

• Because• Since• For the Reason that• In as much as

Conclusion Indicators

• Hence• Therefore• Consequently• So

• 1.The gun registration law is supported by a majority of citizens. Congress should pass it.

• 2.Because the gun registration law is supported by a majority of citizens, therefore Congress should pass it.

• 3.The gun registration law is supported by a majority of citizens. Therefore Congress should pass it.

• 4. Because he gun registration law is supported by a majority of citizens, Congress should pass it.

• It is summer. Therefore it is hot

• Because it is summer, therefore it is hot

• It is summer; it is hot

• Because it is summer, it is hot

• Not all arguments have premise and/conclusion indicator words

• Other things besides arguments (explanations) use premise and conclusion indicator words

Planet Earth was much drier in the Triassic than it is now, and there were large deserts in inland areas. There were no flowering plants or grasses--they evolved much later. The most common trees were conifers, similar to today's pines. Other large plants included yews, ginkgos, and the palmlike cycads. Moisture-loving ferns and horsetails thrived by lakes and rivers. Philip Whitfield, Simon & Schuster's Children's Guide to Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals, 1992)

This passage is a informational

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A informational passage is a statement or group of statements intended simply to convey information about a subject.

I speak English because my parents sent me to boarding school in London.

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This passage is an explanation.

An explanation is a statement or set of statements that seeks to provide an account of why something has occurred or why something is the case.

In this passage, the speaker or writer isn't trying to prove that he can speak English (that's obvious from the fact that he is speaking English!). Rather, he is trying to explain why he speaks English.

In other words, arguments seek to provide evidence or reasons that something is the case; explanations seek to explain why something is the case.

• The gun restriction law should be passed because it is supported by a majority of citizens.

• --This passage is an argument

• --The author is offering reasons in support of a claim

• --The claim is controversial

Argument or not?

• “Japan's economy was worth $5.474 trillion (£3.414 trillion) at the end of 2010, figures from Tokyo have shown. China's economy was closer to $5.8 trillion in the same period. Hence, China is now the world’s second largest economy.”

Argument or not?

• “Japan's economy was worth $5.474 trillion (£3.414 trillion) at the end of 2010, figures from Tokyo have shown. China's economy was closer to $5.8 trillion in the same period. Hence, China is now the world’s second largest economy.”

The passage is not an argument. There is nothing controversial that is being argued. It is a matter of simple math. Hence, the passage is EXPLAINING why China is the world’s second largest economy.

Argument or not

• “Critics of the North American Free Trade Agreement argue that since the average U.S. factor worker makes $16.17 and hour and the average Mexican factory worker makes $2.35 an hour, hundreds of thousands of American jobs will flow down the drain to Mexico.”

Argument or not

• “Critics of the North American Free Trade Agreement argue that since the average U.S. factor worker makes $16.17 and hour and the average Mexican factory worker makes $2.35 an hour, hundreds of thousands of American jobs will flow down the drain to Mexico.”

• This is an argument. The conclusion is that the wage difference between will cause American jobs to go down to Mexico.”

• The passage contains the word “argue that”

• Republican presidential contenders sharply criticized President Obama’s decision to commit U.S. troops to the bombing of Libya. Mitt Romney called the decision “irresponsible,” Ron Paul said it was another example of American imperialism and Michelle Bachmann said it involved spending money the U.S. simply did not have.”

Argument or not?

• Republican presidential contenders sharply criticized President Obama’s decision to commit U.S. troops to the bombing of Libya. Mitt Romney called the decision “irresponsible,” Ron Paul said it was another example of American imperialism and Michelle Bachmann said it involved spending money the U.S. simply did not have.”

• This is not an argument. You are merely being provided with INFORMATION about what various people said about the president. There is nothing controversial being stated here, just facts

Components of a Good Argument

• The claim must be arguable: A disagreement or a number of legitimate points of view must exist regarding the claim. If everyone in the audience is in agreement there really isn't anything to argue over.

• The argument must be rational: An argument must be based in fact not emotion. The claim must be meticulously considered, the evidence thoroughly researched and carefully selected; the audience correctly assessed.

• The logic must be cohesive: A claim must be argued linearly, step-by-step, with appropriate transitions revealing the logic that ties one point to the next. If a minor point doesn't add to the main point, it doesn't belong.