1. Argument
English III
Fall 2014

2. Argument vs. Persuasion
“Argument, on the other hand, is mainly about logical appeals and involves claims, evidence, warrants, backing, and rebuttals.”
“In a persuasive essay, you can select the most favorable evidence, appeal to emotions, and use style to persuade your readers. Your single purpose is to be convincing.”

3. Why is it important for you to develop argumentative skills?
You need to be able to identify a sound argument when you hear one or read one; likewise, you need to be able to identify an unsound argument when you hear or read one.
You need argumentative skills for college.
You need argumentative skills to become productive members in a democratic society.

4. Argument begins with… An examination of data
“A good argument begins with looking at the data which is likely to become the evidence in an argument and which gives rise to a thesis statement or major claim.”
Data = verbal and nonverbal texts, surveys, examples, etc.

5. Argument is a process of inquiry
1. Examine data 2. Ask questions based on data 3. Reexamine data 4. Try to answer the questions 5. Data that supports your answer = evidence

6. Data Claim Evidence Warrant Backing Claim = thesis statement
*NOTE: The graphic organizer shown above is adapted from Stephen Toulmin’s conception of argument in The Uses of Argument.

7. Data Claim Evidence Warrant Backing
Evidence = relevant, verifiable data to support the claim

8. Data Claim Evidence Warrant Backing
Warrant = an explanation of why the data support the claims we make; may be a common sense rule that people accept as true, a law, a scientific principle or study, or a thoughtful definition

9. Data Claim Evidence Warrant Backing
Backing = support for the warrants

10. Qualifications Arguments involve probability.
Use qualifications = words and phrases such as probably, very likely, almost certainly, in all likelihood, as a rule, beyond reasonable doubt

11. Counter-claims
In argument, opposing viewpoints (also called counter-claims) exist.
Respond to opposing arguments with rebuttals.

12. Aristotle’s Rhetoric
A foundational text that deals with the three kinds of arguments of probability:
- forensic (arguments of fact)
- epideictic (arguments of judgment)
- deliberative (arguments of policy)