Parts of an Argument

In Module 3, we learned to recognize main ideas. In an argument, the main idea is also known as the writer's claim.  This claim is the point of the paragraph or piece of writing. The major details in an argument are the pieces of evidence which support the writer's claim. This supporting evidence consists of facts, data, or examples which support the claim: and may help convince others of its validity. 

Claim

• The big idea the writer is trying to prove

• The writer's point, or main idea, in persuasive writing

• The claim is a statement of the author's point of view or judgement about an idea.

Evidence: 

• Support for the claim made up of facts, details, and examples

• Major details in persuasive writing

• The support will explain why and how the author believes the claim.

Reasoning: 

• Logical connections which illustrate how the evidence supports the claim

• The evidence must support the claim in a way that makes sense.

Let's break down an argument together:

The paragraph below is an argument. Read the paragraph and see if you can use the skills you learned in Module 3 to help you identify the main idea. The main idea of this paragraph is the claim. The details of the paragraph, introduced with transition words, are the support for the claim. 

Working on a yacht can be an attractive career for many reasons. First, the travel is unbeatable—you could be exploring secluded islands in the Caribbean one week and bustling ports in the Mediterranean the next. Second, the work can be a great way to develop new skills, from mastering nautical knots to learning about fine wines. Third, the potential income is substantial, with opportunities for generous tips on top of your base salary. Finally, the close-knit crew environment can foster deep friendships and a strong sense of camaraderie. 

• Did you find the main idea? It's in the first sentence. The first sentence of this paragraph is the claim. Can you find the judgement word or words in the claim? 

• The word "attractive" is a judgement word. It is a word that shows a perspective or a point of view. This means the author is claiming that yachting is a good career choice. Whenever an author makes a claim, they must support it to complete the argument. The support will be in the details. Can you tell from the transition words what is the pattern of the details of this paragraph?

• This is a list pattern paragraph. The reasons that support the claim are listed in the order of the author's preference.

Evaluating an Argument

Instead of just finding the main idea, as we did in the last module, critical readers evaluate it. This means checking to see whether the major supporting details are strong enough and relevant enough to support the writer's claim. Readers must use reasoning to determine whether the argument, both the claim and the support, is logical. 

Questions to Ask

• Is the evidence reliable? 

Can we trust the information provided? This may mean checking into the source or confirming data. These days it is far too easy for information to look real and trustworthy even when it is not. We must know how to verify information and credibility in order to be assured the evidence comes from trustworthy, unbiased sources.  

• Is the evidence relevant? 

Sometimes people get off track with their support and add "evidence" that doesn't really pertain to their claim or that actually contradicts the claim. At first glance, irrelevant information may seem important or complementary; however, we must carefully analyze and ask ourselves: Does it actually address the writer's point? Does it contradict the writer's point? Analyze the evidence to check that it truly supports the writer's claim.  

• Is the the argument logical? 

In the heat of a debate or due to an incomplete understanding of an issue, illogical or unsound reasoning is sometimes used. 

Reasoning errors include:

• Using circular logic: The claim and evidence are nearly the same.

• False premises: An initial assumption is untrue. 

• Hasty generalizations: Because something is true in one situation or for one person, it must be true for all.  

Let's evaluate an argument together:

When a strong critical thinker encounters an argument, they should always evaluate the quality of the argument. This means looking at the support with a critical eye to be sure the argument is credible, relevant, and logical. Let's take a simple opinion, "I don't think you should play the lottery." Now we can make it a claim: "You shouldn't play the lottery." 

In order to turn this claim into an argument, we need to add support. We want to make sure the support is reliable. Which one of these statements of support is more reliable or credible:

• I think playing the lottery is stupid.

• According to Investopedia, the odds of winning the Powerball lottery are 1 in 292.2 million or 0.00000000342%.

Using a statistic or piece of research adds reliability or credibility to your argument. Just adding more of your opinion to support your claim may not always be as reliable or as persuasive.

Now, let's look at relevance. When a piece of support is relevant, that means it directly relates to the claim and it doesn't contradict the claim. Which 2 of these 3 pieces of support are irrelevant?

• Playing the lottery has different rules in every state, and it is illegal in some states.

• You can "win" the lottery, and only win $4 in some instances. 

• It would be life changing in a positive way to win a large jackpot in the lottery.

Although the fact that the lottery is illegal in some states might be interesting, it doesn't necessarily mean that should be used as support for the argument. The rule changes and legality of the lottery aren't directly related to the claim of the argument, that you shouldn't play. The other statement that is irrelevant is the last statement because it contradicts the claim. It weakens the claim if the support contradicts it.

Practice 4: Identify and Evaluate Each Argument. 

For Each Paragraph:

1. State the writer's claim (main idea).

2. Identify the statements of support (major details).

3. Is the evidence reliable, relevant, and logical? Explain.

Check your answers in the Module 4.4 section of the Practice Answer Key.

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