Slip or Tripo
Basics of Argument Writing
Argument writing is focused on making logical appeals to an audience. Argument writing involves claims, evidence, warrants, rebuttals and conclusions. It is the heart of academic writing.
The Vocabulary of Argument
Based on Toulmin’s Scheme
• Claims: Thesis statements of opinion about policies, judgments and facts including basic reasons in support of the main claims.
• Evidence: Data that a writer uses to support a claim.
• Warrant: Common sense rules… or discourse area rules… that people generally accept as true. These include laws, scientific rules, general definitions, etc. Certain rules that connect evidence back to claims—how the evidence supports the claim.
• Rebuttal: Despite the careful construction of the argument, there may still be counter-arguments that can be used. These may be rebutted either through a continued dialogue, or by pre-empting the counter-argument by giving the rebuttal during the initial presentation of the argument.
Introduction: Is the following illustration an example of murder (externally inflicted) or suicide (self-inflicted)?
[pic]
Claim: The following illustration is an example of _________________________.
Evidence #1:
Rule/Warrant #1:
Evidence #2:
Rule/Warrant #2:
“Slip or Trip?”
[pic]
At five-feet-six and a hundred and ten pounds, Queenie Volupides was a sight to behold and to clasp. When she tore out of the house after a tiff with her husband, Arthur, she went to the country club where there was a party going on. She left the club shortly before one in the morning and invited a few friends to follow her home and have one more drink. They got to the Volupides home about ten minutes after Queenie, who met them at the door and said, “Something terrible happened. Arthur slipped and fell on the stairs. He was coming down for another drink—he still had the glass in his
Argument writing is focused on making logical appeals to an audience. Argument writing involves claims, evidence, warrants, rebuttals and conclusions. It is the heart of academic writing.
The Vocabulary of Argument
Based on Toulmin’s Scheme
• Claims: Thesis statements of opinion about policies, judgments and facts including basic reasons in support of the main claims.
• Evidence: Data that a writer uses to support a claim.
• Warrant: Common sense rules… or discourse area rules… that people generally accept as true. These include laws, scientific rules, general definitions, etc. Certain rules that connect evidence back to claims—how the evidence supports the claim.
• Rebuttal: Despite the careful construction of the argument, there may still be counter-arguments that can be used. These may be rebutted either through a continued dialogue, or by pre-empting the counter-argument by giving the rebuttal during the initial presentation of the argument.
Introduction: Is the following illustration an example of murder (externally inflicted) or suicide (self-inflicted)?
[pic]
Claim: The following illustration is an example of _________________________.
Evidence #1:
Rule/Warrant #1:
Evidence #2:
Rule/Warrant #2:
“Slip or Trip?”
[pic]
At five-feet-six and a hundred and ten pounds, Queenie Volupides was a sight to behold and to clasp. When she tore out of the house after a tiff with her husband, Arthur, she went to the country club where there was a party going on. She left the club shortly before one in the morning and invited a few friends to follow her home and have one more drink. They got to the Volupides home about ten minutes after Queenie, who met them at the door and said, “Something terrible happened. Arthur slipped and fell on the stairs. He was coming down for another drink—he still had the glass in his