What is argumentation?
Argumentation is the
process of forming reasons, justifying beliefs, and
drawing conclusions to influence the thoughts and/or
actions of others.
Argumentation (or argumentation
theory) also refers to the study of that process. Argumentation is an
interdisciplinary field of study and a central concern of researchers in the
disciplines of logic, dialectic, and rhetoric.
Contrast
writing, an argumentative essay, article, paper, speech, debate,
or presentation with one that's purely persuasive. While a
persuasive piece can be built with anecdotes, imagery, and emotional
appeals, an argumentative piece needs to rely on facts, research, evidence,
logic, and the like to back up its claim. It is useful in any field
where findings or theories are presented to others for review, from science to
philosophy and much in between.
Purpose
and Development
Effective
argumentation has many uses-and critical thinking skills are helpful even
in everyday life and the practice has developed over time.
"The
three goals of critical argumentation are to identify,
analyze, and evaluate arguments. The term 'argument' is used in a special
sense, referring to the giving of reasons to support or criticize a claim that
is questionable, or open to doubt. To say something is a successful argument in
this sense means that it gives a good reason, or several reasons, to support or
criticize a claim."
The
Argumentative Situation
"An argumentative situation...is a site in which the activity of arguing
takes place, where views are exchanged and changed, meanings explored, concepts
developed, and understandings achieved. It may also be a site in which people
are persuaded and disagreements resolved, but these popular goals are not the
only ones, and too narrow a focus on them threatens to overlook much for
which argumentation is a central and important tool."
Argumentative
Theory of Reasoning “Now
some researchers are suggesting that reason evolved for a completely different
purpose: to win arguments. Rationality, by this yardstick...is nothing more or
less than a servant of the hard-wired compulsion to triumph in the debating
arena. According to this view, bias, lack of logic and other supposed flaws
polluting the stream of reason are social adaptations that enable
one group to persuade (and defeat) another. Certitude works, however, sharply it
may depart from the truth.”
The
Hitchhiker's Guide to Argumentation
"The argument runs something like this. ‘I refuse to prove that I exist,’
says God, ‘for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing.’
What
Is an Argumentative Essay?
Argument
essays seek to state a position on an issue and give several reasons, supported
by evidence, for agreeing with that position.
•
Argument
essay topics can be found everywhere.
•
Check
the headlines of a newspaper, or just listen to a conversation.
•
Chances
are, you will hear someone trying to persuade another person to believe in their
claim about:
•
Is
it true?
•
What
caused this?
•
How
important is it?
•
What
should we do about it?
5 Types of Argument Claims
1. Fact: Is it true or not?
2. Definition: What does it really mean?
3. Value: How important is it?
4. Cause and Effect: What is the cause? What are the effects?
5. Policy: What should we do about it?
How to Write a Thesis Statement
What Is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is one sentence in your introductory paragraph
that concisely summarizes your main point/s and claim/s, and presents your
stance on the topic. It's worth spending some time crafting a strong thesis
statement since it lets the reader know what the essay will be about and
determine whether they want to read it.
Three
Ways to Write a Thesis Statement
1.
Question/Answer Format: The easiest way to write a thesis
statement is to turn the topic or prompt into a question, and then answer that
question. To write a clear answer, you need to understand the kind of
question you are asking. Most types of questions fall into one of 5 categories:
fact, definition, cause, value, or proposing a solution. Most topics can
actually create questions in all of these categories, for example:
Does
divorce cause serious problems for children? (Fact)
What
is "domestic violence?" (Definition)
What
are the causes of divorce? (Cause)
How
important is it for couples to avoid divorce? (Value)
What
can you do to make your marriage divorce-proof? (Proposal)
Answer: Your
question often can be the title of your paper, or it can be the first line of
the introduction. Your answer to this question is your thesis.
Example:
Question (used for title): What is the best way to make your marriage
divorce-proof?
Answer:
The most important way to make your marriage divorce-proof is to make sure you
have carefully prepared for that commitment.
In
answering the question, you can also tell the reader the focus of your paper,
in this example, you let the reader know you are focusing on the preparation
for marriage to prevent divorce.
2.
Refute Objections: Another
way to craft a thesis statement is to state one side of the argument and
present a refuting statement.
Example:
While some people think there is no way to divorce-proof your marriage, studies
have shown that there are fewer divorces when people carefully prepare for that commitment.
In
this example, you state one side of the argument- “there is no way to divorce-proof your
marriage”-and refute it by saying “There are fewer divorces when people
carefully prepare for that commitment.” The reference to studies that will back up your argument makes this statement stronger or more appealing.
3.
Roadmap:
An additional way to make a strong thesis is to do a Roadmap which tells in
just a few words the three or more main points you will cover.
Example:
While some people think there is no way to divorce-proof your marriage, studies
have shown that there are fewer divorces when people carefully prepare for that
commitment by taking the time to get to know the other person before becoming
engaged; by spending time with one another's family and friends; by talking
about hot-button issues like finances; and by getting extensive premarital
counseling.
This
is an example of a really strong thesis statement in which you state a claim,
your stance on the claim, and the main points that will back up your stance. Although
it is a little long-winded, it thoroughly outlines the essay's discussion.
Not only is this helpful for the reader, but it will help you when crafting
your essay by keeping you focused on these specific points.