Trace and Evaluate an Argument

Statements that addresses opposing/opposite viewpoints

• Argument

• Claim

• Counterargument

• Evidence

Speaking or writing that expresses a position on a problem and supports it with reasons and evidence

• argument

• claim

• evidence

• reasoning

to examine something carefully and to judge its value or worth

• evaluate

• relevant

• irrelevant

• refute

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!!!!!

an argument made to oppose another argument

• counter-argument

• claim

• evidence

• reasoning

Where does a claim usually appear within an argument?

• near the beginning

• in the middle

• near the end

What does it mean to evaluate evidence and reasoning in an argument?

• Critically assess the facts and logic presented in support of a claim.

• Evaluate evidence based on personal beliefs

• Ignore evidence and reasoning completely

• Accept all evidence without question

How can you determine if a claim is valid or not?

• Trust your gut feeling

• Evaluate the evidence, analyze the facts, consider counterarguments, and assess the credibility of the source.

• Flip a coin

• Ask a friend

Explain the importance of evidence in evaluating an argument.

• Credibility is not affected by the presence of evidence

• Evidence is not important in evaluating an argument

• Arguments can be evaluated without evidence

• Evidence is crucial in evaluating an argument as it provides support for the claims made, helps establish credibility, and allows for logical reasoning to be applied. Without evidence, arguments can be baseless and lack validity.

Discuss the role of reasoning in assessing the validity of claims.

• Reasoning is essential for evaluating the validity of claims as it enables individuals to critically analyze evidence, evaluate arguments, and draw logical conclusions.

• Reasoning has no impact on assessing the validity of claims

• Assessing claims does not require critical thinking

• Drawing illogical conclusions is beneficial for evaluating claims