Understand the claim, or opinion.

Read through the article to make sure you understand the issue.

Evaluating an Argument

• Identify the author’s claim, or opinion—the thing the author is trying to prove.

• Restate the author’s opinion in your own words.

Identify the support.

To present persuasive arguments, an author must support his or her claims. Look for

Evaluating an Argument

• logical appeals

• emotional appeals

Logical appeals include reasons and evidence.

Evaluating an Argument

• Reasons are statements that explain why the author holds an opinion.

• Evidence is the information that authors use to support their reasons. Evidence includes

• facts

• statistics (number facts)

• examples

• quotations from or opinions of experts

Emotional appeals play on readers’ emotions rather than their reason. Emotional appeals include

Evaluating an Argument

• loaded words (words with strong emotional connotations)

Emotional appeals can be effective but shouldn’t be relied on too heavily. Arguments that rely heavily on emotional appeals rather than logic are usually weak.

• anecdotes (brief stories)

Evaluate the evidence.

A good argument must be backed up by solid evidence. As you read, ask yourself:

Evaluating an Argument

• Does the evidence directly support the author’s reasons?

• Does the author present sufficient evidence to back up generalizations and prove the claim?

• Has the author loaded the argument with emotional appeals instead of providing valid evidence?

Identify the author’s intent.

Think about why the author is making this argument.

Evaluating an Argument

• Pay attention to how the author’s intent, or purpose, influences the tone of the argument.

• Look for bias, or prejudice, on the part of the author.

Create a chart.

Identify an argument’s strengths and weaknesses.

Evaluating an Argument

Evaluating an Author’s Argument

Claim or Opinion:

Logical Appeals Reason 1: Evidence:

Reason 2: Evidence:

Emotional Appeals Loaded Words: Anecdotes:

Tone:

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