13 Argumentation & Analytical Arguments
In this chapter, students will practice:
“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.”[Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]”
― Desmond TutuThis chapter on argumentation discusses what is meant by “argumentation” and provides methods and examples for writing an argument of your own. Overall, a well-written argument essay establishes a claim that is supported by researched evidence and thoughtful commentary.
In composition, argumentation does not mean being aggressive or hostile. Rather, argumentation in the realm of academics means having a clear stance on an issue, detailing specific evidence that supports that stance, establishing common ground with others who have opposing views on that issue, and defending/explaining the advantages of that stance over the oppositions’ arguments.
Example: Argumentation
Here’s an outline of a simple argument for owning a dog.
- Claim: For most people, dogs are the best pet.
- Reason: Dogs provide home security.
- Evidence: According Annie Nominous, homes with dogs are ninety percent less likely to be burglarized (816).
- Counterargument: Understandably, some people prefer cats because of their independent nature.
- Rebuttal: While cats do require less care, they do not bark to alert their families when strangers approach the house.
Terri Pantuso, from Texas A&M University, elaborates:
“Argument is not [always] the loud, assertive, unwavering statement of your opinion in the hopes of conquering the opposition. Argument is the careful consideration of numerous positions and the careful development of logically sound, carefully constructed assertions that, when combined, offer a worthwhile perspective in an ongoing debate. Certainly you want to imagine yourself arguing with others—and certainly you want to believe your ideas have superior qualities to theirs—but the purpose of argument in the college setting is not to solve a practical problem or shut down a conversation. Rather, it’s to illuminate, expand, and further inform a debate happening on a worthwhile subject between reasonable, intelligent people. [For a review of this and other logical fallacies, refer to the Student Resources section of this text].”
Parts of an argument
Understanding parts of an argument is useful for both analysis and composition. Philosopher Stephen Toulmin created a means for argument analysis, the Toulmin Model, which can also be used to create an argument of one’s own. The Toulmin Model has many levels, but the top three provide an excellent basis for both analysis and construction of an argument. The Colorado State University website has a thorough explanation of Toulmin as well as a worksheet for analyzing and creating an argument: Colorado State University website.
Claims
What is a claim? Simply stated, a claim is a position or stance that the person communicating takes on an issue. Claims exist on a spectrum of complexity;