The Logical Structure The Logical Structure of Argumentof Argument

Forming sound argumentsForming sound arguments

Terms to know…Terms to know…

ClaimClaim: statement to be justified/proven/upheld: statement to be justified/proven/upheld ThesisThesis: positive statement or declaration to be : positive statement or declaration to be

supported with reasons and evidencesupported with reasons and evidence PremisePremise: a statement or assumption that is : a statement or assumption that is

established before an argument is begunestablished before an argument is begun GroundsGrounds: the reasons, support, and evidence to : the reasons, support, and evidence to

support your claimsupport your claim WarrantWarrant: a stated or unstated belief, rule, or principle : a stated or unstated belief, rule, or principle

that underlies an argumentthat underlies an argument

Remember…Remember…

Claims are supported with reasons. You can usually Claims are supported with reasons. You can usually state a reason as a “because clause attached to a state a reason as a “because clause attached to a claim statement.claim statement.

A “because” clause attached to a claim is an A “because” clause attached to a claim is an incomplete logical structure called an incomplete logical structure called an enthymeme. enthymeme. To To complete the logical structure, the unstated complete the logical structure, the unstated assumptions must be articulated.assumptions must be articulated.

To serve as an effective starting point for the argument, To serve as an effective starting point for the argument, this unstated assumption should be a belief, value, or this unstated assumption should be a belief, value, or principle that the audience grants or allows.principle that the audience grants or allows.

Creating Logical Structure

A = BA = B

B = CB = C

Therefore,Therefore,

A = CA = C

ENTHYMEME:ENTHYMEME:

After-school jobs are bad for teenagers After-school jobs are bad for teenagers because they take away study time.because they take away study time.

Includes a claim with a reason expressed Includes a claim with a reason expressed as a “because” clause. To render this as a “because” clause. To render this enthymeme logically complete, you must enthymeme logically complete, you must supply an unstated assumption or a supply an unstated assumption or a warrantwarrant..

CLAIM:CLAIM: After-school jobs are bad After-school jobs are bad

for teenagers.for teenagers.

REASON:REASON: Because they take away Because they take away

study timestudy time

WARRANT:WARRANT: Loss of study time is bad.Loss of study time is bad.

Now break down your enthymeme Now break down your enthymeme into its A, B, and C terms:into its A, B, and C terms:

A =A = After-school jobs (subject of claim)After-school jobs (subject of claim)

B = B = Activity that takes away study timeActivity that takes away study time

(reason)(reason)

C =C = Activity that is bad (claim)Activity that is bad (claim)

After-school jobs are good for teenagers After-school jobs are good for teenagers because they teach responsibility and because they teach responsibility and time management.time management.

CLAIM:CLAIM: After-school jobs areAfter-school jobs aregood for teenagersgood for teenagers

REASON:REASON: Because they teach timeBecause they teach timeresponsibility and time responsibility and time managementmanagement

WARRANT:WARRANT:Learning responsibility Learning responsibility and time management is and time management is good.good.

REMEMBER…REMEMBER…

You must “categorize” your subjectYou must “categorize” your subject The first word of B and C must be the The first word of B and C must be the

same or you have an undistributed same or you have an undistributed middle termmiddle term

Warrants must be acceptable to the Warrants must be acceptable to the audienceaudience

YOUR TURN!YOUR TURN!

ENTHYMEME:ENTHYMEME:

Cocaine and heroine should be legalized Cocaine and heroine should be legalized because legalization would eliminate the because legalization would eliminate the black market for drugs.black market for drugs.

State the claim, reason, State the claim, reason, and warrantand warrant

CLAIM:CLAIM: Cocaine and heroine should Cocaine and heroine should be legalizedbe legalized

REASON:REASON: Because legalization would Because legalization would eliminate the black marketeliminate the black marketfor drugsfor drugs

WARRANT:WARRANT: An action that eliminates the An action that eliminates the black market for drugs is goodblack market for drugs is good

State the A, B, and CState the A, B, and C

A = A = Legalization of cocaine and heroineLegalization of cocaine and heroine

B =B = Action that would eliminate the blackAction that would eliminate the black

market for drugsmarket for drugs

C = C = Action that should be takenAction that should be taken

GroundsGrounds

GROUNDS are the supporting evidenceGROUNDS are the supporting evidence—data, facts, statistics, testimony, or —data, facts, statistics, testimony, or examples—that cause you to make your examples—that cause you to make your claim. They are collectively all the claim. They are collectively all the evidence you use to support a reason. evidence you use to support a reason.

Grounds answers the question “How do Grounds answers the question “How do you know?”you know?”

BackingBacking

BACKING is the argument that supports BACKING is the argument that supports the warrant, or underlying assumption.the warrant, or underlying assumption.

In some cases, successful arguments In some cases, successful arguments require just three components: a claim, a require just three components: a claim, a reason, and grounds. However, if the reason, and grounds. However, if the audience questions or doubts the audience questions or doubts the warrant, the writer needs to provide warrant, the writer needs to provide support for that argument.support for that argument.

After-school jobs are bad After-school jobs are bad for teenagers because they for teenagers because they take away study time.take away study time.

Grounds:Grounds: (jobs take away study time) (jobs take away study time) data/evidence showing that after-school data/evidence showing that after-school jobs take away study time (exs. of jobs take away study time (exs. of teenagers who work late and don’t study, teenagers who work late and don’t study, statistics showing that teenagers with statistics showing that teenagers with jobs study less that those without jobs, jobs study less that those without jobs, testimony from teachers that working testimony from teachers that working students study less that those with jobs)students study less that those with jobs)

Backing for the warrantBacking for the warrant

Argument showing why loss of study time Argument showing why loss of study time is bad (it leads to lower grades, to is bad (it leads to lower grades, to inadequate preparation for college, to inadequate preparation for college, to less enjoyment of school, to lower self-less enjoyment of school, to lower self-image as a student, etc.)image as a student, etc.)