Argument vs Non-argument

Yesterday, I saw my friends really mad at each other and I don’t know what to do! But today they resolved their differences.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Non-argument.

The speaker is not trying to persuade you that something is true or false or that something has to be done. She is merely describing a situation.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

My room is a mess. The drawers are everywhere and all my money is gone! A burglar must have busted into my house without me seeing!

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument.

There is a conclusion that the speaker is trying to convince you to accept. Additionally, there are various pieces of evidence that the speaker provides as reasons/support for his conclusion.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

The reason why we are all here today is that my brother brought us together.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Non-argument.

There is no attempt to justify that a conclusion is true. This is merely an explanation.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

If you had any sense, you’d had gotten me an iPad for my birthday. But you clearly don’t have any sense because you didn’t!

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument

P1: If you had any sense, you’d had gotten me an iPad for my birthday.

P2: You didn't get me an iPad for my birthday.

C: You clearly don’t have any sense.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

We have observed humans learning philosophy in a classroom, we have not observed that in apes. We have observed humans give each other reasons for who should be class president, we have not observed that in bees. We have observed humans trading ideas about how to put together the best CNY noticeboard, we have not observed that in plants. Humans are rational; animals and plants are not.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument.

The speaker is trying to persuade us to accept the conclusion as true. The first 3 sentences give us evidence to infer that the conclusion is true.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

My CCA is really boring. I want to quit.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Non-argument.

The speaker is not trying to convince anyone that her conclusion is true or should be done. Rather, she is just explaining her motivations.

If we have a student council, then we would be allowing unnecessary divisions in the student body. We should not be allowing unnecessary divisions in the student body. So, we shouldn’t have a student council.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument.

P1: If we have a student council, then we would be allowing unnecessary divisions in the student body.

P2: We should not be allowing unnecessary divisions in the student body.

C: We shouldn’t have a student council.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Buckle up. It's the law.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument

P: It’s the law!

C: Buckle up.

The test was unfair. I studied for days, reading the material four times, underlining important details and then studying them. After doing all this I should have gotten a good grade.

• Argument

• Non-argument

Answer explanation

Argument

P1: After I studied for days, reading the material four times, underlining important details and then studying them, I should have gotten a good grade.

P2: I didn’t get a good grade.

C: The test was unfair.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1