Identifying arguments
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This document discusses arguments and how to identify their key components. An argument consists of premises that provide reasons or evidence to support a conclusion. Common words that indicate premises include "because" and "since," while conclusion indicators are words like "therefore" and "thus." To identify an argument's conclusion, determine what claim the author is trying to prove or see which statement fits best after "therefore." A passage only qualifies as an argument if it contains at least two statements and one is intended to support another as true or more probable. The document also differentiates arguments from reports, unsupported opinions, illustrations, conditional statements, and explanations.
Identifying arguments
- 3. Arguments – a form of thinking in which certain statements (reasons) are offered in support of another statement (a conclusion). Premises (Reasons) – Statements that support another statement (known as a conclusion), justify it, or make it more probable. Conclusion – A statement that explains, asserts, or predicts on the basis of statements (known as reasons) that are offered as evidence.
- 4. Lawyers earn a lot of money. (Premise) I want to earn a lot of money. (Premise) I should become a Lawyer. (Conclusion) Example – A Simple Argument
- 5. Look for premise indicators that provide clues when premises are being offered. Examples: because, since, for, given, that, as, judging from, and seeing that. Look for conclusion indicators that provide clues when conclusions are being offered. Examples: therefore, thus, hence, so, as a result, accordingly, consequently, and which shows that. Identifying Premises & Conclusions Tips:
- 6. Ask yourself, "What claim is the writer or speaker trying to prove?" That claim will be the conclusion. Try putting the word "therefore" before each of the statements in turn. The statement it fits best will be the conclusion. If the passage contains no indicator words, try these two strategies:
- 7. More precisely, a passage is an argument if and only if: •It is a group of two or more statements. •One of those statements (the conclusion) is claimed or intended to be supported by the other(s) (the premises). What is Not an Argument? Note: An argument is a claim defended with reasons.
- 8. Notice three important things that follow from this definition: I. Arguments consist entirely of statements (sentences that it makes sense to regard as either true or false). Questions, commands, and other kinds of non-statements cannot be parts of arguments (Keep in mind, however, that rhetorical question should be treated as statements.).
- 9. Notice three important things that follow from this definition: II. No single statement is an argument. Arguments always consist of at least two statements. III. Nothing counts as an argument unless it is claimed or intended that one statement follows from one or more other statements in the passage. In other words, a passage is an argument only if the speaker or writer intends to offer evidence or reasons why another statement should be accepted as true.
- 10. Five kinds of passages that are sometimes confused with arguments: Reports Unsupported statements of belief or opinions Illustrations Conditional Statements Explanations A statement or group of statements intended simply to convey information about a subject. Is a statement or set of statements in which the speaker or writer expresses his or her personal opinion, but offers no reasons or evidence to back up that opinion. Unsupported statements of belief or opinions. Is a passage intended to provide examples that illustrate or support a claim, not to provide convincing evidence that the claim is true. Is an if-then statement. It is an assertion that such-and- such is true if something else is true. Is a statement or set of statements that seeks to provide an account of why something has occurred or why something is the case.