Elements of an Argument

A carefully stated claim supported by reasons and evidence

• evaluate

• argument

• support

• counterclaim

A specific reference, such as a fact, statistic, quotation, or opinion that is used to support a claim

• fact

• evidence

• support

• trace

Statements that address opposing viewpoints

• counterarguments

• claims

• facts

• opinions

Which of the following is NOT a claim?

• California is the best state in the USA.
• The school year began on August 18 and will end on June 4
• Christmas is the best holiday of the year.

Claim: All high schools students should be required to take a foreign language to make them more competitive. 

Which piece of evidence BEST supports the claim above?

• Learning another foreign language is a waste of time.
• There is little evidence that many students achieve much fluencey in high school. 
• Learning another language improves students' vocabulary and grammar skills. 

Claim: In the United States, we still need a post office. Which of the following is NOT a good piece of evidence to support this claim?

• The post office is needed for the delivery of packages.

• Nearly 90% of mail is junk mail and throwing it away is bad for the environment.

• The post office serves Americans throughout the country

Evidence: Zoos cannot perfectly copy the animal's natural habitat. Zoos don't allow animals to think and problem solve like they would in their natural habitat. Which claim best matches the evidence?

• Zoos are harmful to the well-being of the animals.

• Zoos are good for animals because many of the animals were endangered in their original habitats.

If I was making an argument for keeping zoos open, what could a piece of evidence be?

• I could give the statistic of the number of people that visit the zoo each year

• I could share the zookeepers' opinions on the animals' lives and well-being

• I could share how much research zoos have been able to accomplish

• Any of these would be a valuable piece of evidence

If I was making an argument for keeping SeaWorld in business, what counterargument could I address?

• The fact that these animals do not live as long in captivity

• I could mention some facts and statements from the documentary film "Blackfish"

• I could mention that these animals may not be as healthy or in as good of shape as they would be in the wild.

• Any of these would make a valid counterargument

Which of the following is the best example of an argument? 

• How monkeys survive in the jungle: Five Surprising Facts
• If you are not playing Fortnite, you should be, because it is the greatest game on the market today. 
• Have you ever wondered why the Egyptians built the pyramids?
• I love nachos!!!!!