Parts of an Argument

Parts of an Argument

Parts of the Argument

• Claim = the position or side that you take in an argument

• Reason(s) = Supports your claim and WHY it is correct

• Counter-argument = the OPPOSITE side of your claim

• Rebuttal = your response to the counter-argument, to explain WHY the counter-argument is wrong

• Evidence= Facts or documentation used to support an argument

These key words will help you identify counter-arguments and rebuttals

Argument: "Should the menu in the cafeteria change?"

The menu in the cafeteria should change, because most students do not like the food options. As a result, they are throwing the food that they buy away. Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat. While this may be true for some of the waste, it probably not true for all of it. 8 out of 10 schools polled reported that a change in menu cut down on the amount of food waste they had as a whole.

We use the logic scale to EVALUATE the argument's logic.

Logic = "Does it make sense?"

Multiple Select

What is the claim in the argument?

• because most students do not like the food options

• Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat

• The menu in the cafeteria should change

• While this may be true for some of the waste, it is probably not true for all of it.

Poll

How would you rate the claim on the logic scale?

• 1 = not very logical (easy to argue against)

• 2 = sort of logical (kind of easy to argue against)

• 3 = very logical (cannot be argued against)

Multiple Select

What is the reason in the argument?

• because most students do not like the food options

• Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat

• The menu in the cafeteria should change

• While this may be true for some of the waste, it is probably not true for all of it.

Poll

How would you rate the reason on the logic scale?

• 1 = not very logical (easy to argue against)

• 2 = sort of logical (kind of easy to argue against)

• 3 = very logical (cannot be argued against)

Multiple Select

What is the counter-argument?

• While this may be true for some of the waste, it is probably not true for all of it.

• The menu in the cafeteria should change

• Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat

• because most students do not like the food options

Poll

How would you rate the counter-argument on the logic scale?

• 1 = not very logical (easy to argue against)

• 2 = sort of logical (kind of easy to argue against)

• 3 = very logical (cannot be argued against)

Multiple Select

What is the rebuttal?

• because most students do not like the food options

• Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat

• The menu in the cafeteria should change

• While this may be true for some of the waste, it is probably not true for all of it.

Poll

How would you rate the rebuttal on the logic scale?

• 1 = not very logical (easy to argue against)

• 2 = sort of logical (kind of easy to argue against)

• 3 = very logical (cannot be argued against)

Multiple Choice

What is the evidence that is provided in this paragraph?

The menu in the cafeteria should change, because most students do not like the food options. As a result, they are throwing the food that they buy away. Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat. While this may be true for some of the waste, it probably not true for all of it. 8 out of 10 schools polled reported that a change in menu cut down on the amount of food waste they had as a whole.

• Some believe that food waste actually occurs because there isn’t enough time to eat.

• While this may be true for some of the waste, it probably not true for all of it.

•  8 out of 10 schools polled reported that a change in menu cut down on the amount of food waste they had as a whole.

• The menu in the cafeteria should change, because most students do not like the food options.

Argument: "Should students wear uniforms at school?"

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

Multiple Choice

What is the CLAIM?

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking.

• Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms.

• It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus.

• It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

Poll

How would you rate the claim on the logic scale?

• 1 = Not logical

• 2 = Sort of logical

• 3 = Very logical

Multiple Choice

What is the reason(s)?

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus.

• However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking.

• Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms.

Poll

How would you rate the reason on the logic scale?

• 1 = Not logical

• 2 = Sort of logical

• 3 = Very logical

Multiple Choice

What is the counter-argument?

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms.

• It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus

• However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking.

Poll

How would you rate the counter-argument on the logic scale?

• 1 = Not logical

• 2 = Sort of logical

• 3 = Very logical

Multiple Choice

What is the rebuttal?

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase their ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus.

• It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking.

• Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms.

Multiple Choice

What element of an argument is missing from this paragraph that would make it a more solid argument ?

It may be argued that uniforms give students structure and increase the ability to focus. However, it is not clothing that distracts students. Students are distracted more from talking. Students, therefore, should not wear uniforms. It will change how they behave in school. Additionally, it will help them to focus.

• Counter Claim

• Reasoning

• Rebuttal

• Evidence

Poll

How would you rate the rebuttal on the logic scale?

• 1 = Not logical

• 2 = Sort of logical

• 3 = Very logical