| Argument
is an attempt to persuade through logic.
I.
Moving from issue to thesis
A.
Deciding on a suitable issue (must be a significant and controversial
subject)
B.
Considering all sides
1.
Make a pro/con list
2.
Research points you do not understand
C. Taking
a stand (forming an opinion
on the issue)
D. Writing
the thesis
1.
A statement of opinion or value
2.
A proposal for action
3.
A combination of proposal and statement
II.
Choosing appropriate evidence
A. Define any
terms in the thesis that may be controversial.
B. Carefully analyze
the thesis and then build a series of points to support it.
C. Gather concrete
evidence.
1. A fact is a
statement which is true and verifiable.
2. An opinion
is a statement which is the result of judgment and which cannot be conclusively
verified.
D. Consider the
opposition.
1.
Consider the points the opposition might raise.
2.
Gather evidence to counter those points in your argument.
E. Check to see
that the evidence is relevant, current, and specific.
III.
Testing for logic
A. Test for arguments
that go from SPECIFIC to GENERAL; that is, they "leap" from a specific
and limited observation to a probable conclusion).
B. Test for arguments
that go from GENERAL to SPECIFIC.
C. Avoid logical
fallacies (which seem reasonable but are not).
IV. Presenting the case
A. Interpret evidence
as soon as it is presented.
Draw conclusions to each point.
B. Include the
thesis as the last sentence in the introduction.
C. Save the strongest
point until last.
D. Deal with opposing
viewpoints at the beginning of the argument.
E. Avoid introducing
new information in the conclusion. |
