ARGUMENT

Is an attempt to persuade someone of something, by giving reasons or evidence for accepting a particular conclusion

Premises Conclusion

One and only one

One or more

PREMISE

 Is a statement in an argument that provides reason or support for the conclusion. There can be one or many premises in a single argument.

Conclusion

 Is a statement in an argument that indicates of what the arguer is trying to convince the reader/listener. What is the argument trying to prove? There can be only one conclusion in a single argument.

EXAMPLECats with long hair shed all over the house so you should not get a long-haired cat. I have heard that they also have lots of fleas.

P1: long-haired cats shed all over the house

P2: long-haired cats have lots of fleas

C: You should not get a long-haired cat

INDICATORS

INDICATORS

INDICATORS

• Your car needs a major overhaul, for the carburetor is shot.

• Given that euthanasia is a common medical practice, the state legislatures ought to legalize it and set up some kind of regulations to prevent abuse.

• Because euthanasia is murder, it is always morally wrong.

• We must engage in affirmative action, because America is still a racist society.

• Since abortion is a hotly contested issue in this country, nobody should force his opinion about it on anyone else.

PREMISE-FLAGS

CONCLUSION-FLAGS

• You need either a new transmission, or a new carburetor, or an entirely new car; so you had better start saving your pennies.

• Affirmative action violates the rights of white males to a fair shake; hence it is unjust.

• It is always wrong to kill a human being, and a fetus is undoubtedly a human being. It follows that abortion is always wrong.

• A woman's right to control what happens to her body always takes precedence over the rights of a fetus. Consequently, abortion is always morally permissible.

• Euthanasia involves choosing to die rather than to struggle on. Thus, euthanasia is a form of giving up, and it is therefore cowardly and despicable.

EXERCISEMilitary serviceAlcoholMarijuanaPornographySoap operas

ELEMENTS OF AN ARGUMENTÁlvaro Díaz

Compelling elements: - Point of view- Foundation- Warrant

Optional elements:- Conditioning conclusion- Concession- Refutation

COMPELLING ELEMENTSPoint of view or conclusion: it is the central idea of your argument. What is the idea you are supporting?What is that you want to persuade?What is that you want to prove?

Foundation: (premises) the way in which you support your argument. So that the reader can trust you. What is your motivation for thinking that way?Which reasons support your ideas?Which facts support your idea? Which experiences illustrate your idea?

Guarantor: it is a principle accepted by society which supports the relationship between the point of view and the foundation. What is the principle that supports the relationship between P and F ?

EXAMPLES 1

P: the thief must be someone we know

F: the dog did not bark G: dogs are used to bark to

unknown people. (Not necessary G because is a

common principle)

EXAMPLE IIP: the Atlético Junior manager should quit. F: 8 out of 10 games have been lost. G: The goal of a manager (coach) is winning as much matches as possible.

P: Mr. X cannot be punished for being homosexual. F: homosexuality is not a “crime” stipulated in the constitutional law. G: For a person to be punished (jail) there are specific “rules” to be followed.

OPTIONAL ELEMENTS

Conditioning conclusion: it is important to delimit our conclusion.EX: Marijuana should be legal for medical purposes.

Concession: acknowledge the opponents of our conclusion.EX: most of the people believe that AIDS is a biblical punishment.

Refutation: support, with arguments to go against the concession. Ex: Those who think that way, have an irracional fear based upon myths, not valid for a modern society.

THANKSShared by Professor Chilito

Edited by Professor Garcia

Seeing that cats, with long hair, shed all over the house and that they have got lots of fleas, I conclude that you should not get a long-haired cat.

1. Fairdale will win the championship. They have the best team.

2. The housing market is depressed and interest rates are low, it's a good time to buy a home.

3. China is guilty of extreme human rights abuses. Further, they refuse to implement democratic reforms. The U.S. should refuse to deal with the present Chinese government.

4. The revocation of the 55 mph speed limit has resulted in an increased number of auto fatalities. We must alleviate this problem with stricter speed limit enforcement.

EXERCISE

5. We may infer that the U. S. military is both capable and competent from the results of the Persian Gulf War.

6. Scientific discoveries are continually debunking religious myths. Further, science provides the only hope for solving the many problems faced by humankind. Hence, science provides a more accurate view of human life than does religion.

7. Jesse is one year old. Most one-year-olds can walk. It follows that Jesse can walk.

8. I deserve a raise. I'm very good at my job.