Chapter 4 Argument Analysis 1 Invitation to Critical Thinking First Canadian Edition Joel Rudinow Vincent E. Barry Mark Letteri

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-2 The goal of argument analysis Goal: to present “a fair and accurate understanding of the argument in detail” Purpose: to make clear the argument’s conclusion (thesis) and premises so we can evaluate the argument

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-3 Overview Analyzing Arguments:  Circling and highlighting  Mapping  Casting

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-4 Circling and Highlighting  Circle signal words or phrases This helps you locate the conclusion This helps you locate the conclusion  Identify and highlight the argument’s conclusion  Challenge the argument’s conclusion Ask: why should we accept it as true? Ask: why should we accept it as true? Passages that respond to this question are premises Passages that respond to this question are premises Repeat this step as necessary to identify deeper layers of support or hidden premises Repeat this step as necessary to identify deeper layers of support or hidden premises

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-5 Circle Signal Words  Canadians wait too long for access to many public health care services because such services tend to be overly bureaucratized. Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem, because privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency. Therefore, Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care.

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-6 Circle Signal Words  Canadians wait too long for access to many public health care services such services tend to be overly bureaucratized. Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem, privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency.Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care. Therefore, because

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-7 Highlight the Conclusion  Canadians wait too long for access to many public health care services such services tend to be overly bureaucratized. Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem, privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency.Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care because Therefore, Canada introduce should take immediate steps to two-tiered health care.

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-8 Highlight Conclusion and Premises What is the conclusion? Which premises support the conclusion? Which premises support other premises? because Therefore, Canada introduce should take immediate steps to two-tiered health care. Canadians wait too long for access to many public health care services Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem, such services tend to be overly bureaucratized. because privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency.

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-9 Mapping 1. Write the conclusion at the bottom of the page. 2. Identify the premises that directly support this conclusion and draw downward arrows from them to the conclusion. 3.Identify hidden or implicit claims that support the premises or that support the conclusion. Put them in circles above the claim they support and draw arrows from them either to the conclusion or to the premise that they support. Identify them with letters rather than numbers.

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-10 Mapping an argument Such services [public health care services] tend to be overly bureaucratized Canadians tend to wait too long for access to many public health care services Privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care +

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-11 Mapping an argument Conclusion Premises supporting the conclusion Premises supporting other premises Such services [public health care services] tend to be overly bureaucratized Canadians tend to wait too long for access to many public health care services Privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care +

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-12 Casting  Identify the elements of the argument you want to analyze.  Put each claim in square brackets.  Number the claims consecutively in their order of appearance in the passage.  Use C to indicate the conclusion (C* to indicate an implicit conclusion).  Extend the casting of the argument to include hidden or implicit premises (claims) using letters to represent the hidden claims.  Circle or box the numbered and lettered elements and use arrows to show what supports what.

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-13 Highlight Conclusion and Premises What is the conclusion? Which premises support the conclusion? Which premises support other premises? because Therefore, Canada introduce should take immediate steps to two-tiered health care. Canadians wait too long for access to many public health care services, Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem, such services tend to be overly bureaucratized. because privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-14 Casting the Same Argument Such services [public health care services] tend to be overly bureaucratized Canadians tend to wait too long for access to many public health care services Privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care C C +

© 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4-15 Casting the Same Argument with Hidden Premises Such services [public health care services] tend to be overly bureaucratized Canadians tend to wait too long for access to many public health care services Privatization gives vendors a heightened motivation to increase efficiency Some degree of medical privatization would help the problem Canada should take immediate steps to introduce two-tiered health care C C ab + Public health care services usually involve many organizational channels & restrictions People tend to act more effectively when their own money is immediately at stake a b