1. Causal Arguments

2. The Problem of Causation What caused the eraser to hit the floor? What caused the eraser to hit the floor? Gravity? Gravity? Nerve impulses? Nerve impulses? Me? Me? My desire to teach you something about causes? My desire to teach you something about causes?

3. Arguing Causes (Writing Arguments, pp. 233-239) Explanation of Causal Mechanism Explanation of Causal Mechanism Induction Induction Informal induction (“common element” or “single difference”) Informal induction (“common element” or “single difference”) Scientific experimentation Scientific experimentation Statistical correlation Statistical correlation Analogy Analogy

4. Organizing a Causal Argument (Writing Arguments, pp. 244-245) Plan 1 – introduce, present thesis, explain each link in causal chain Plan 1 – introduce, present thesis, explain each link in causal chain Plan 2 – introduce, devote one section to each possible cause and to evaluation of each Plan 2 – introduce, devote one section to each possible cause and to evaluation of each Plan 3 – introduce, examine and reject obvious causes, argue for a surprise cause Plan 3 – introduce, examine and reject obvious causes, argue for a surprise cause Plan 4 – introduce, summarize and refute favored cause, present own proposed cause Plan 4 – introduce, summarize and refute favored cause, present own proposed cause

5. Toulmin Schema (Writing Arguments, p. 97) Claim: Claim: Stated Reason: Stated Reason: Grounds: Grounds: Warrant: Warrant: Backing: Backing: Conditions of Rebuttal: Conditions of Rebuttal: Qualifier: Qualifier: