WEEK 3
PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT
READ 142
Fall 2010
Today’s Agenda
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Next week’s work: Read Selection 1 “College—
More Than Serving Time” on page 329
Activity 3 Lab Contract
Review homework
More about claims: definition & qualifiers
Identifying Assumptions
Assign Group Presentations
Lab Activity Next Week
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Please download the lab manual pages from our course
website.
Check the lab contract to see which pages you’ll need.
When it is required, work needs to be done on
designated worksheets or typewritten paper, not on
“improvised” paper. (This is why a print account comes
in handy.)
Remember to get your lab sheets signed.
Clocking in…
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Clock in and out each time you visit.
Work that is done in lab during class time will not
be given credit.
Let’s go over your assignment.
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Let’s count off in groups from A through F.
Share your answers with your group.
Choose one person to be the spokesperson.
More about claims…
1. Importance of Definition
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When examining a claim, check to see if the writer
has defined key terms.
If the writer does not define key terms, that opens
up the claim to misinterpretation or to multiple
definitions.
Example: American students need to do more
homework to be competitive with their global
counterparts.
What needs to defined in these
statements?
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The Simpsons is a show that celebrates family
values.
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques are necessary
for the protection of the American people.
Our society does not treat the elderly with enough
respect.
2. Qualifiers
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A qualifier is a statement about how strong the
claim is.
The qualifier expresses the degree of confidence
following from the support of the argument that the
speaker attributes to his or her claim.
Arguments may thus range from strong assertions to
generally quite floppy or often rather uncertain
kinds of statement.
Words the indicate qualifiers
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“most”, “usually”, “always” or “sometimes”
"possible," "probably," "impossible," "certainly,"
"presumably," "as far as the evidence goes," or
"necessarily."
Examples
Drinking coffee is the most significant cause of
stained teeth.
(although perhaps not the only cause)
 People will probably enjoy the movie Avatar.
 High unemployment will most likely result in
increased crime.
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With your partner, provide qualifiers for the following
claims.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Mixed-race adoptions are beneficial for all
parties involved.
Spanking as a method of discipline leads to
violent behavior and aggression.
Social networking sites creates isolation and
loneliness in individuals.
The abortion rate in the US has been declining in
recent years.
What are the parts of an argument?
CLAIM
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
REASONS
WHY DO YOU THINK SO?
EVIDENCE
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT?
WARRANT
WHAT ARE YOU ASSUMING?
REFUTATION
IT MAY BE ARGUED THAT ____. I’M STILL RIGHT
BECAUSE ______.
What is assumed in this statement?
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Let’s meet at Gino’s Pizzeria at 6 p.m.?
A warrant or assumption
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a seemingly self-evident belief underlying an
argument
is taken for granted
is implicit, not explicit
the link between the reason/evidence and the
claim. If the warrant isn't valid, the argument
collapses.
a guarantee that the evidence supports the claim
Sometimes the assumption is explicit
New York City has decided to offer
cash rewards to some students based on
their attendance records and exam
performance. Diligent, high-achieving
seventh graders will be able to earn up to
$500 a year. The plan is the brain-child of
Roland G. Fryer, an economist who has
been appointed as “chief equality officer”
of the city’s Department of Education.
The assumption that underlies the
project is simple: people respond to
incentives. If you want people to do
something, you have to make it worth their
while. This assumption drives virtually all
of economic theory.
Barry Schwartz, “Money for Nothing,” The New York Times, July 2, 2007
What is the warrant or unstated
assumption?
I’ve made my position very clear on embryonic stem
cells. I’m a strong supporter of adult stem cell
research, of course, but I have made it very clear to
the Congress that the use of federal money,
taxpayers’ money, to promote science which
destroys life in order to save life is—I’m against
that.
-George W. Bush, 2005
Why is it important to identify the warrant?
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If you accept the assumption, then you can accept
the argument.
If the assumptions are invalid or they do not accord
with your thinking, then you do not have to accept
the argument.
What are the assumptions in samesex marriage issue?
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Same-sex marriage should be legalized in
California.
Marriage should be limited between a man and a
woman.
If you do not accept the assumptions, you do not
have to accept the argument.
Let’s do a few together.
1.
2.
Politicians who commit marital infidelity deserve to
be fired.
Poverty is the reason crimes are commit in
Southern California.
Work with a partner.
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Choose a statement in the next slide with which you
agree. Give your partner one reason why you
believe this.
Your partner identifies unstated assumptions or
warrants upon which your view depends.
Choose a statement with which you agree.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Kids today have less imagination.
Boxing is a barbaric activity.
The older one gets, the wiser one becomes.
Schools should be required to give sex education.
Too much television watching leads to aggressive
behavior.
The law against using a cell phone while driving is
worthless.
Let’s practice identifying more
assumptions.
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This will be a class assignment that is done
individually.
On a piece of paper, write your name and label
this “Practice Exercise 5 Assumptions.”
Do the even-numbered questions. Feel free to
consult your group.
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Let’s apply what we’ve been
learning to an article.
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We are going to read “The Myth of Doomed Kids.”
Break up into pairs.
With your partner, map the claim and the
reasons/evidence on your poster paper. Do not fill the
entire paper. Leave some space to add more items.
Make sure your name is on the paper.
I will call on several pair groups to explain their map.
This will be collected at the end of our session.
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claim
Reason 3
Reason 1
Reason 2
Subpoint
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Look at the evidence the author
uses, and identify an assumption or
two from the way she connects her
claim and the evidence.
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Ask questions about the chart she
provides.
Apocryphal
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I thought that swallowed gum stays in your system
for seven years. I learned recently that this was
apocryphal.
an apocryphal story is well-known but probably not
true
seethe
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I was seething after the store clerk yelled at me
for not having my money.
to feel an emotion, especially anger, so strongly
that you are almost shaking; fuming
prognostication
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Do not believe the gloomy prognostications that
our planet will be doomed by overpopulation in
five years.
A statement about what you think will happen in the
future; a forecast
blather
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Just ignore his blather about aliens and ghosts—he
believes in paranormal activities.
Talk that lasts for a long time about unimportant
things
recrimination
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Criticism or blame for something that has happened
Bitter accusations and recriminations followed the
disaster.
strife
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Somalia does not have a central government
because it is filled with strife among various tribal
groups.
trouble between two or more people or groups;
conflict
Supersize Me: Morgan Spurlock
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Play first five minutes.
Visits doctors, gets clean bill of health
Was a vegan
Play 15:55 to get rules
Skip Day 30 1 hour 29 minutes
Questions
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What assumptions does Spurlock make about the
effect of fast food?
What evidence does he use?
Next week…
CLAIM
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
REASONS
WHY DO YOU THINK SO?
EVIDENCE
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT?
WARRANT
WHAT ARE YOU ASSUMING?
REFUTATION
IT MAY BE ARGUED THAT ____. I’M STILL RIGHT
BECAUSE ______.
Let’s go over your group
presentations.