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Building an Argument

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Building an Argument

When you want to convince someone that

your main thesis is true, you need to supportyour argument with several good points and

examples.

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Argument: Smoking should be banned

from public placesSupporting Points Examples

Supporting Points Examples

Smoking is dirty Smokers leave ashes, matches, and

cigarette butts on the ground

Smoking bothers other people People cough and hate the smell

Smoking is dangerous Careless smokers cause building fires

and forest fires. Smoking kills people

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Argument..

Smoking is a bad influence on young

people.

If teenagers see young adults smoking

they may think smoking is cool and so they

may try to smoke

Smoking is bad for health Smoking causes throat and lung cancer.

Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as firs

thand smoke. Smoking causes heart disease

.

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Building an Argument

Your argument needs to flow..

Use these to introduce your first point

First of all

First of all To begin with,

To start with,

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Your argument needs to flow..

Use these to connect your points

And

Also, Furthermore,

Whats more,

As well,

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Your argument needs to flow..

Use these to show relatively more important

Points

More importantly, Whats worse,

Whats more,

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Your argument needs to flow..

Use these to show your most Important point

Above all else,

Above all, Most of all,

Use these to show your final point

. Finally,

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Your argument needs to flow..

Use these to conclude your idea.

In conclusion,

Therefore,

Use these to introduce examples.

For example,

For instance,

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Exercise:

underline the expression on this page that you find in the paragraphon Banning Smoking.

Banning smoking from public spaces is a good policy for severalreasons. First of all, smoking is a filthy habit. Smokers leave theircigarette butts on the ground and drop their ashes anywhere.Furthermore, smoking bothers other people. It smells horrible andcauses other people to cough. More importantly, smoking isdangerous. Careless smokers who throw away cigarettes sometimescause building and forest fires. Another reason to ban smoking inpublic places is the influence smoking has on teenagers. When

teenagers see young adults smoking, the teenagers may think it iscool and start a habit that is very difficult to quit. And above all else,smoking is bad for health. It causes lung and throat cancer in peoplewho inhale secondhand smoke. In conclusion, the ban on smokingis necessary to protect people. ______

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Building an Argument

Argument

Supporting Points Examples_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

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Developing Effective Arguments with

Claims, ..

Negotiators interpretations of or beliefs aboutsomething.

As you come up with claims for your arguments,make sure of two things:

that the claims really do convey yourinterpretation and are not simply statement of

fact that the claims can be supported with specific

evidence.

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.. Evidence,

Evidence => support or facts.

Unlike claims, facts are indisputable."true facts. => ?

The phrase is redundant because all facts are

truethat's what makes them facts!

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Presenting Evidence..

Quotation: cite words exactly as they appear

in the original

Paraphrase: convey the same meaning that

the original work conveys by using your own

words to convey the idea expressed in the

original work.

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.. and Warrants

warrant is the logical connection between a

claim a

..explain how and why a particular piece of

evidence is good support for a specific claim

and a supporting fact.

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Refuting arguments

In a formal argument, the primary arguer mustestablish a prima facie case (that stands on itsown) and thus carries the burden of proof. The

opponent only needs to show that the case is notproven to win the argument and thus may wellfocus on attacking and disproving the given case.An alternative case may also be given, but is not

needed. Refuting is also known as rebuttalor the burden

of clash.

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Refute..

Check for single, clear meanings.

Verify that meanings are clear to everyone.

Seek ambiguity and uncertainty.

Challenge expertise and assumptions of

authority.

Show that there are contradictory definitions.

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Refute the logic

Consider the rationale being used. Test each statementfor logical soundness. Also test between statementsacross the argument.

Check that logical connections are clear and sound.

Watch for unfounded assumptions.

Test causes for clear and direct connections.

Check that generalizations, inductive and deductivearguments are used in the right way.

Look for bias, intentional or otherwise. Watch out for distractions and changing the subject.

Show that they are using a fallacy of some sort.

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Refute grounds

Dig into the data and evidence being used tosupport the main claim.

Show that there is not enough data being used.

Show that some critical evidence is not beingused.

Indicate how data that might refute the argumentis being ignored.

Show how data is being misinterpreted ormisrepresented.

Seek to uncover suppressed evidence.

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Refute support

Look at the supporting statements to theargument. Seek cracks and chinks in the armor.Look for a place to drive in a wedge. Manyarguments have a valid claim but weak support.

Refute the warrant that links the grounds to theclaim.

Refute the backing that supports the warrant.

Look for qualifiers and floppy language that canbe challenged.

Find the weakest link in the chain and focus on ituntil it breaks.

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Use a counter-argument

Create another argument that uses more correctlogic, that is more powerful and all-encompassingthan the given argument.

Show your argument to cover more areas. Show it to cover areas more thoroughly.

Make it more interesting and appealing.

Make the logic and structure complete andsound.

Use solid data that cannot be challenged.

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Use a fallacy

And of course you can use fallacies of your

own, of which there are many. This, of course,may be refuted itself. So consider your

audience and whether they are capable of

such refutation.

fallacy => incorrect reasoning in

argumentation resulting in a misconception