TFY Ch. 9 & Exercise

Summary

In this chapter, it shows the model of good and poor arguments in order to lead toward writing arguments that are well constructed, well supported, and persuasive. You will learn the skills of argument building, argument analysis, and argument evaluation. The skilld of critical analysis will enable you to write more effective arguments yourself, whether in the form of simple letters of complaint or in the longer argumentative essay assignments that appear in this book.
Arguments and reports have a very different objectives and forms, they can be mistaken for one another if their differences are not fully understood.
The main purpose of a report is to offer information; this can be done by offering facts and finding or realating and explaining events. Its objective is not to advocate an opinion. If the situation is controversial, the reporter should present arguments from all side, but not favor one argument or another.
Arguments, on the other hand, do advocate opinions; information may be used to explain an idea, to justify it, or to persuade others to accept that idea. Arguments are not supposed to be neutral but express a position.
A quick method for analyzing an argument is to disassemble its structure, first identifying its conclusion and then separating that statement from the reasons offered to support it.
The analysis of arguments in terms of their reasons and conclusions applies to both inductive and deductive arguments. Reasons include data, evidence, and promises, while conclusions include those deductively drawn as well as hypothesis. The conclusion of ana rgument is the last step in a reasoning process. However, it may be stated at any time during an argument or not at all. Reasons support conclusions. They may be generalizations that could function as conclusions in another context. Once the argument's main conclusion is uncovered, the reasons offered in support becomes clear.
Arguments state and defend a claim in an attempt to persuade. Arguments disguished as reports slant the facts and language toward a bias. Report that only relate events or state facts cannot be analyzed as though they were arguments.
An issue is a topic of controversy upon which positions may be taken. Surrounding each issue are many debate questions.