Constructing and Organizing Arguments

• Claims are statements about what is true or good or about what should be done or believed
• Claims are potentially arguable
• Example: San Sebastian is the best school in Manila
• Reasons are statements of support for claims, making those claims something more than mere assertions
• Reasons are answers to the hypothetical challenge to your claim: "Why do you say that?" "What reason can you give me to believe that?"
• Example: If a claim about San Sebastian is challenged, a response with a reason could be "A lot of students graduated with latin honors"
• Evidence serves as support for the reasons offered and helps compel audiences to accept claims
• Evidence comes in different sorts and it tends to vary from one academic field or subject of argument to another
• To be effective, specific instances need to be representative of the broader trend or idea they are supporting
• Consider the situation:
• Think of all aspects of the communication situation
• Consider the subject and purpose of your message, the medium you will use, the receiver, and the context
• Clarify your thinking:
• Think about the pros and cons of each side of the issue
• Do some preliminary research to understand the subject well
• Write a single statement that gives your position and the main reason that you hold that position
• Construct a claim
• Collect evidence:
• Research the issue in depth using primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
• Gather a variety of key evidence to support your claim
• Consider key objections:
• Think about other viewpoints related to the argument
• Decide how you will answer those objections—by countering them or by conceding them
• Craft your argument
• Confirm your main point:
• Wrap up your argument by stating your claim in a new way, connecting it to real life and to the future
• The purpose of argument is to persuade the audience.
• A good argument has three parts: claim, evidence, and warrant.
• Claim - The main point or idea being argued