The argument

1. Structure of an argumentative paragraph

1. The claim.
This is the argument itself. You want it direct and punchy, just one good
sentence.
EX: By having classes only 4 days a week, schools would save over a million
dollars a year.
2. The explanation.
This is where you make the audience understand your argument, you develop
it you explain it. It can be as long as you need, but make sure you dont
digress, you stay focus on your argument.
EX: Students require a lot of services that are very expensive. A lot of people
are paid to serve them. We have the bus driver, the hallway monitors, the
cafeteria lunch ladies, the substitute teachers... Schools could save on salaries
if these people also had Fridays off.

3. The support.
This is where you show that what you are saying is true*, by offering proof.
Ex: In 2008, the Financial State of PLM stated that salaries of the nonteaching personnel represented over 20 % of the expenses, which is
approximately 8 millions per year.
For advanced student: you could do another 2 and 3 if they also explain your
claim. Ex: The biggest saving a school system would do with the 4-day week is

on gas. The budget for gas in 2009 was well over a million for the CSDN, so
cutting it by 1/5th would be a significant advantage.

2. Types of appeal
1. Logical appeal
It is an argument based on inductive or deductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning
Definition :
Definition :
Conclusion based on the repetition of an Conclusion based on assertions. For the
observation. They are probable at best.
conclusion to be true, the assertions have to
Be careful not to jump to conclusion
be true. For the conclusion to be valid, it
must follow necessarily the assertions.
Example :
Example :
Every morning for a week, the bus passes
All boys are humans
in front of my house at 8 am. I conclude
Adam is a boy.
that next Monday, the bus will pass at 8
Therefore, Adam is a human.
am.
This one is invalid:
Lack of exercise causes people
Bad example: if my boyfriend speaks to
to be overweight
another girl, it is because he wants to kiss
Jack is overweight
her.
Therefore, Jack doesnt
exercise.

Logical argument appeals to

the audiences reasoning

their understanding

their common sense

The supports to use with a logical argument are based on reality:

fact

definitions

statistics

data

Example: Why should you buy a Toyota?

2. Emotional appeal
Used to stimulate the audiences emotions such as

sympathy

patriotism

pride

And any other feelings based on

values

beliefs

motives

The supports used with an emotional argument are:

examples

description

narratives

Example: Why buy a jaguar?

3. Ethical appeal
Argument that appeals to the audiences opinion and judgment about the person
making the argument. So it is not what is said but who said it. The spokesperson
must be credible.
Example: Who is the spokesperson for Reebok?

Notes:

The danger of assumptions. I didnt learn anything because the teacher was dull
that persons assumption is that the teacher is the only one responsible for her
learning.

Dont exaggerate. 99% of the people agree 99% of the people never agree.

Dont be vague. Everyone says Its a big problem (whos everyone? How
big?)

3. Logical Fallacies (mistakes in argumentation)

Do NOT do these mistakes!
a) hasty generalizations
it is using too few examples to base a conclusion on.
Ex : All teachers are the same !
b) circular reasoning
It is assuming that what has to be proven has already been proven.
Ex : This product is good for the environment because it doesnt pollute the atmosphere.
It doesnt pollute because it is good for the environment.
c)Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
(After this, therefore, because of this.)
It is not because two things happen one after the other, that the second is the consequence
of the first. There might be another factor.
Ex : Your mom says that your grades are bad since you started to hang out with your new
friend. Therefore HE is the bad influence on you. (she doesnt know that you get high
every lunch)
d) non-sequitur. (irrelevent proof)
def : using a proof that doesnt support the argument.
Ex : the movie was superb, because it cost a lot to make.
e) false analogy (bad comparison)
def : compairing two things that cant be compared, or forgetting to take into accounts
important different factor(s).

ex : why arent you as nice/good/studious/intelligent/hard-working as your

brother/sister ?
f) ad hominem (against the man)
def : its a personal attack against the person making the argument and not against the
argument itself.
EX : You cannot talk ; youre a parent and you dont understand what it is like to be
young !
g) eitheror
def : it is when you establish a either/or situation, not accepting the possibility of a third
choice.
EX : Either you like The Canadiens, or you like the Maple Leafs. (I hate hockey, he likes
the Bruins)
h) bandwagon
def : trying to convince by saying that everybody already agrees.
Ex : in a political campaign : Vote the liberal member of parliament because the liberals
are going to win and you want to be with the majority.