Argument- Overview diarmaidshortall October 4, 2016 Argument, Compose, Comprehend The Language of Argument Make a Claim A claim is a statement that is arguable. This must be supported by: Data or evidence Facts Examples Statistics Evidence Evidence must be valid. Conclusion reached must follow logically from premise or preceding statements: The Premise (a statement) Argument 1. Sub argument(s) Conclusion Premise 2 Argument 2 Analysis of facts Direct observation Personal experience Anecdotal material Findings in a report Statistics Research/findings from experts in a field Quotations from reliable sources Persuasion Evidence and reasoning must be presented in persuasive manner Try to convince reader at all times Facts & Opinion A fact is something that really exists or occurs. Facts – should be verified – need to examine the evidence. Opinion is a judgment or a belief – need to test by examining the evidence and testing what inferences can be drawn from it Example: All planets in the solar system are round. – Fact. As the planets in the solar system are round, the earth must be a round. – Inference. All planets in the solar system are wonderful. – Opinion Remember Don’t jump to conclusions Don’t make sweeping or extravagant claims Don’t take the disputed point for granted Don’t ignore the issue Don’t offer only two possible answers. An argument is rarely ‘black and white’. There may be alternative possibilities. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.