what is an "argument" as that term will be used in this course?

by Leopold Zieme Jr. 3 min read

What is an argument?

Definition: An argument is a set of statement in which a claim is made, support is offered for it and there is an attempt to influence someone in a context of disagreement.

Does the word argument have to be written anywhere in an assignment?

You may be surprised to hear that the word “argument” does not have to be written anywhere in your assignment for it to be an important part of your task. In fact, making an argument—expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence—is often the aim of academic writing.

What is the importance of arguments in academic writing?

In fact, making an argument—expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence—is often the aim of academic writing. Your instructors may assume that you know this and thus may not explain the importance of arguments in class.

What are the premises of the suggested argument?

The suggested argument would have premises about odd arrangements and funny solutions and a conclusion that claims evolution. Indicate which of the proposed reconstructions best captures the argument in the following passages from Steven Jay Gould, "The Panda's Thumb".

What is an argument in academic terms?

Definition of Academic Arguments An academic argument is your stance, your claim, or your take on your topic. This stance, claim, or take is your contribution to the current conversation on your topic and provides your readers with a position, perspective, and/or point of view on your topic.

What is an argument give an example?

The definition of an argument is a reason or reasons why you are for or against something. An example of an argument is the statement that the death penalty is wrong because innocent people could be killed. noun.

What is an argumentative term?

Definition of argumentative 1 : given to argument : tending to argue : having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue with other people in an angry way : disputatious He became argumentative when confronted with the allegation.

What is the definition of argument that we are using in this course quizlet?

An argument is a set of statements, some of which provide support for another statement. Does the following passage contain an argument? If so, identify conclusion. If not, select 'no argument'.

What is an argument in essay?

In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea.

What is the meaning or argument?

1 : a reason or the reasoning given for or against a matter under discussion — compare evidence, proof. 2 : the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing especially : oral argument. More from Merriam-Webster on argument.

What are terms related to an argumentative essay?

The general structure of an argumentative essay follows this format: Introduction: Attention Grabber/hook, Background Information, Thesis Statement. Body: Three body paragraphs (three major arguments) Counterargument: An argument to refute earlier arguments and give weight to the actual position.

What is argumentative sentence?

Definition of Argumentative. predisposed to debating, disagreeing, or expressing controversial opinions or beliefs. Examples of Argumentative in a sentence. 1. An argumentative student will often disagree with the teacher just for the sake of doing so rather than having a good reason.

What's an argumentative question?

An argumentative question challenges the witness about an inference from facts in the case. Example: Assume that the witness testifies on direct examination that the defendant's car was going 80 m.p.h. just before the collision. You want to impeach the witness with a prior inconsistent statement.

What is an argument of definition quizlet?

Definition: An argument is a set of statement in which a claim is made, support is offered for it and there is an attempt to influence someone in a context of disagreement.

What is an argument in public speaking?

Arguments are the claim a speaker makes. Evidence is the proof that supports the claim. The warrants are the connection between the evidence and the claim. Speakers must also be careful to avoid and be aware of logical fallacies.

What is an argument in logic quizlet?

argument. a set of statements in which one or more of the statements attempt to provide reasons or evidence for the truth of another statement. premise.

What is an argument in writing?

What is an argument? In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea. In the majority of college papers, you will need to make some sort of claim and use evidence to support it, and your ability to do this well will separate your papers from those of students who see assignments as mere accumulations of fact and detail. In other words, gone are the happy days of being given a “topic” about which you can write anything. It is time to stake out a position and prove why it is a good position for a thinking person to hold. See our handout on thesis statements.

How to summarise opposing arguments?

When you are summarizing opposing arguments, be charitable. Present each argument fairly and objectively, rather than trying to make it look foolish. You want to show that you have considered the many sides of the issue. If you simply attack or caricature your opponent (also referred to as presenting a “straw man”), you suggest that your argument is only capable of defeating an extremely weak adversary, which may undermine your argument rather than enhance it.

How to counterargument?

You can generate counterarguments by asking yourself how someone who disagrees with you might respond to each of the points you’ve made or your position as a whole. If you can’t immediately imagine another position, here are some strategies to try: 1 Do some research. It may seem to you that no one could possibly disagree with the position you are arguing, but someone probably has. For example, some people argue that a hotdog is a sandwich. If you are making an argument concerning, for example, the characteristics of an exceptional sandwich, you might want to see what some of these people have to say. 2 Talk with a friend or with your teacher. Another person may be able to imagine counterarguments that haven’t occurred to you. 3 Consider your conclusion or claim and the premises of your argument and imagine someone who denies each of them. For example, if you argued, “Cats make the best pets. This is because they are clean and independent,” you might imagine someone saying, “Cats do not make the best pets. They are dirty and needy.”

How to respond to counterarguments?

Once you have thought up some counterarguments, consider how you will respond to them—will you concede that your opponent has a point but explain why your audience should nonetheless accept your argument? Will you reject the counterargument and explain why it is mistaken? Either way, you will want to leave your reader with a sense that your argument is stronger than opposing arguments.

What questions should I ask when reading?

When you read, ask yourself questions like “What is the author trying to prove?” and “What is the author assuming I will agree with?” Do you agree with the author? Does the author adequately defend her argument? What kind of proof does she use? Is there something she leaves out that you would put in? Does putting it in hurt her argument? As you get used to reading critically, you will start to see the sometimes hidden agendas of other writers, and you can use this skill to improve your own ability to craft effective arguments.

Do instructors explain arguments in class?

Your instructor s may assume that you know this and thus may not explain the importance of arguments in class. Most material you learn in college is or has been debated by someone, somewhere, at some time. Even when the material you read or hear is presented as a simple fact, it may actually be one person’s interpretation of a set of information.

Do you have to write an argument in class?

You may be surprised to hear that the word “argument” does not have to be written anywhere in your assignment for it to be an important part of your task. In fact, making an argument—expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence—is often the aim of academic writing. Your instructors may assume that you know this and thus may not explain the importance of arguments in class.

What is an argument in a context?

Definition: An argument is a set of statement in which a claim is made, support is offered for it and there is an attempt to influence someone in a context of disagreement.

What is the end point of an argument?

Claims are ending points for arguments: after the process of argument is concluded the claim has been explored. The claim is either accepted (moved below the level of dispute) or rejected (remains above the level of dispute) The claim is then the conclusions of an argument.

What does "audience" mean in argument?

Definition: that which the arguer wants the audience to accept, which they (the audience) do not presently accept.

What does precedent mean in law?

Law: use precedent to establish the existence of a legal rule.

What does "to draw attention to generally accepted and relevant facts" mean?

To draw attention to generally accepted and relevant facts (evidence) on which the claim will be based.

Do expert opinions require special training?

Expert opinion: Statements DO require special training, background or expertise.

How many premises does every argument have?

Every argument has at least one premise.

What does every conclusion contradict?

Every conclusion contradicts what the audience believes.

What does "if" mean in a conditional?

The term "if" presents a pattern for a possible argument, but it does not actually present that argument. The argument is given only if the clause after "if" (called the antecedent of the conditional) is asserted, but here the authors do not assert that you buy coffee from large corporations.

What is an evaluation utterance?

Evaluative utterances are used only to express emotions or prescribe actions.

How to give meaning to a word?

You can give the meaning of a word by describing how it is used.

Is ideal design a lousy argument for evolution?

However, ideal design is a lousy argument for evolution, for it mimics the postulated action of an omnipotent creator.

What is an academic argument?

An academic argument is your stance, your claim, or your take on your topic. This stance, claim, or take is your contribution to the current conversation on your topic and provides your readers with a position, perspective, and/or point of view on your topic.

What is the role of reflection and summary in academic writing?

Although reflection and summary play a role in academic writing, your papers need to be founded in analysis and critique. Learning to spot a strong argument in what you read can help you become better at constructing your own arguments when you write. The following subpages will help you learn how to understand and develop a strong argument in ...

Is an academic argument a fight?

An academic argument is not.... An academic argument is not a fight, a battle, or a negative confrontation. An academic argument is also not emotional nor focused on one person's opinion.

Why are hasty generalizations common in arguments?

Hasty generalizations are common in arguments because there's a wide range of what's acceptable for "sufficient" evidence. The rules for evidence can change based on the claim you're making and the environment where you are making it — whether it's rooted in philosophy, the sciences, a political debate, or discussing house rules for using the kitchen.

What is the ad hominem fallacy?

Ad Hominem Fallacy. When people think of “arguments,” often their first thought is of shouting matches riddled with personal attacks. Ironically, personal attacks run contrary to rational arguments. In logic and rhetoric, a personal attack is called an ad hominem. Ad hominem is Latin for “against the man.”.

What is a fallacy in logic?

Logical fallacies are flawed, deceptive, or false arguments that can be proven wrong with reasoning. There are two main types of fallacies:

What is formal fallacy?

A Formal Fallacy is a breakdown in how you say something. The ideas are somehow sequenced incorrectly. Their form is wrong, rendering the argument as noise and nonsense. An Informal Fallacy denotes an error in what you are saying, that is, the content of your argument.

Why is it important to know your logical fallacies?

Knowing your logical fallacies can also help when you're working on your next research paper. You may want to brush up on controversial research topics while you're at it, so you're even more prepared.

What are the most important components of college?

One of the most important components of learning in college is academic discourse, which requires argumentation and debate. Argumentation and debate inevitably lend themselves to flawed reasoning and rhetorical errors. Many of these errors are considered ...

Is ignorance a fallacious appeal?

Any time ignorance is used as a major premise in support of an argument, it’s liable to be a fallacious appeal to ignorance. Naturally, we are all ignorant of many things, but it is cheap and manipulative to allow this unfortunate aspect of the human condition to do most of our heavy lifting in an argument.

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What Is An argument?

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Perhaps the simplest explanation of what an argument is comes from Monty Python’s "Argument Clinic" sketch: 1. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a definite proposition. ...an argument is an intellectual process... contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything t…
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What Makes A Successful argument?

  • The above represent positions people hold, but which others may disagree with. Merely making the above statements do not constitute an argument, no matter how often one repeats the assertions. To create an argument, the person making the claims must offer further statements which, at least in theory, support the claims. If the claim is supported, the argument is successfu…
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Three Parts of An Argument

  • Another aspect of understanding arguments is to examine the parts. An argument can be broken down into three major components: premises, inferences, and a conclusion. Premises are statements of (assumed) fact which are supposed to set forth the reasons and/or evidence for believing a claim. The claim, in turn, is the conclusion: what you finish with at the end of an argu…
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