Chapter 12 : CRCB : Identifying and Evaluating Arguments

What is an Argument?Arguments are also the logical structures that people use when they write and speak to present ideas and to persuade others to support those ideas.

Parts of an Argument
An Argument consists of two or more statements that include one conclusion and at least one reason that supports it.
A conclusion is the judgment. decision, or opinion you reach after thinking about or investigating an issue.
A reason is statement that explains, justifies, or otherwise supports a conclusion.

Identifying Arguments
Argument Word Clues
1.Reason Word Clues
Example :
may be inferred from/ may be deduced from
in view of the fact
as shown by
in the first place/ in the second place
because
first of all
for the reason that
as indicated by
first, second
for example
finally
since

2.Conclusion word clues
Example :
therefore
hence
shows that
it follows that
consequently
as a result
it should be
then
demonstrates that
points to
clear that
leads me to
implies that
proves that
believe that
in short
in my opinion
thereby showing
the point I'm making is
so
the truth is
thus

Types of Arguments
1. Deductive Arguments
Deductive Arguments begins with a general statement or a general law that is then supported by specific details, reasons, or examples that prove or explain it, which are called premises.
Deductive Arguments are judged as either being true or false.

2. Inductive Arguments
Inductive Arguments begins with a series of specific observations and concludes with a generalization that logically follows from it.
Inductive Arguments is judged as being strong or weak.

Evaluating Argument
Knowing how to evaluate arguments is useful because it helps you to follow an author's line of reasoning and therefore understand his or her ideas more clearly.

Determining Dependability in Arguments
Key strategies :
1. Check Date of Publication
2. Check Source of Publication
3. Check Authorship

Determining Fact from Opinion
Facts are statements that can be proved to be true. They can be verified through research, observation, experimentation, or direct experience.
A fact does not reflect personal feelings or attitudes.

Opinions are the expression of personal perspectives or points of view regarding issues or topics, and cannot be proved or disproved.
Sometimes use absolute words such as worst, best, least, or other emotive words that express strong feelings such as exciting, annoying, delightful, horrible, beautiful, or ugly.
Also use word should or ought.

Detecting Fallacies
Fallacies are errors in reasoning.
1. Either/or Thinking : it allows for only two answers to a problem when in fact there may be more.
2. Hasty Generalization/ Overgeneralization : using too few or weak reasons to support a broad, sweeping conclusion
3. Red Herring (irrelevant material): want to distract their readers' attention away from important information that does not support their conclusion.
4. False Cause : fails to explain how the conclusion and reasons are connected to each other, or provides unclear or provide faulty connections between them.
5. Slippery Slope : authors assume that one event will precipitously lead to another event.
6. Ad Hominem : avoid the true issue of an argument by attacking the person they disagree with.
7. Circular Reasoning : make two statement that essentially say the same thing