7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

1/13

SZBS 1

CHAPTER 3:ARGUMENTATION

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

2/13

SZBS 2

An argument is an attempt to convince

someone (possibly) yourself) that a

particular claim, called the conclusion, istrue.

The rest of the argument is a collection of

claims called the premises, which are given

as the reasons for believing theconclusion is true.

The conclusion is sometimes called the

issue that being debated.

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

3/13

SZBS 3

CONT.. Argumentation involves presenting beliefs

rationally.

It applies to many kinds of communication:

- formal debates, court cases, speeches,literature, advertising, and conversation.

Argue without coming to a conclusion--or

we avoid argument altogether.

People often say it's impolite to argue

Trying to convince others that our opinions

are true (and that theirs are wrong).

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

4/13

SZBS 4

RECOGNIZING ARGUMENTS

REASONS- Statements that support another statement (known

as a conclusion), justify it or make it more probable

CONCLUSION-A statement that explains, asserts, or predicts on the

basis of statement that offered as evidence

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

5/13

SZBS 5

CUE WORDS FOR ARGUMENTS

Signal that a reason is being offered in support of aconclusion or that a conclusion is being announcedon the basis of certain reasons

Cue words signaling reasons:-since in view of-for first, second-because in the first (second) place

-as shown by may be inferred from-given that may be derived from-therefore then-so demonstrates that-points to leads me to believe that

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

6/13

SZBS 6

Cue words do help alert us that an argumentsis being made

Identifying reasoning, conclusions andarguments involves more than looking cuewords

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

7/13

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

8/13

SZBS 8

State Your Belief Succinctly as a

PropositionProposition is the expression of your belief in a statementwhich can be proved true or false

- Proposition makes an assertion; it indicates what

is to be proved

- Proposition is something we "propose" foracceptance

- It asserts something as true, not merely referringto a topic or pointing to a question

- Often fail to understand that we begin by statinga proposition which makes an assertion

- Must be asserted, pro or con, before we have

argumentation

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

9/13

SZBS 9

State Your Belief Succinctly as a

Proposition(Cont..)

Requirements of a Sound Proposition:*proposition should be debatable

*proposition should be provable

*proposition should be manageable

*proposition should be unambiguously phrased

*proposition should be significant

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

10/13

SZBS 10

3.Define the major terms in your

proposition- avoid useless disagreement

- resolve the difficulty by defining the term goaround

- Requirements of a Good Definition:*definition should be adequately inclusive and

adequately exclusive

*definition should be expressed in terms

simpler and more familiar than the defined

term*should not use the term defined or any of its

derivatives in the definition

*should defend our definitions

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

11/13

SZBS 11

4.Review the Major Ideas Related tothe Issue

- Examine the key ideas that relate to the issue

- In this step, we show which attempts to resolve

the problem have proved fruitless andwhich successful

- In our survey we use the results of whatever

research we've done

- This is the reason we study other people's ideasto find answers to our questions and to find

criticisms of our own views

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

12/13

SZBS 12

5. Substantiate your Proposition

- The last step in argumentation is to prove

what you propose to be true

- A belief requires proof, not mere assertion- Don't prove a proposition simply by

stating and analyzing it

- A proposition must be substantiated as

well- To substantiate a proposition, we both

prove it true and disprove opposing

views.

7/30/2019 CT CHAP 3

13/13

SZBS 13

VALUE OF ARGUMENTATION Values are concepts people use to evaluate

objects

Important to arguments because peopleare in a better position to make argumentsif they understand and share the audience'svalues.

These shared values can be used asstarting points of arguments.

Value hierarchies indicate how an audiencearranges values in order of importance