Making

Arguments
BY: HOPE WILLIAMS
 What are the characteristics for a
good argument?

The argument must have a claim, support, a warrant, a

backing, a counterclaim, and a rebuttal.
The claim can be the Thesis Statement.
There are 4 different types of claims:
Claims of Fact
Claims of Cause and Effect
Claims About Value
Claims About Policy
 1
Support Another way to back up the
claim and convince the
audience that the claim
presented is accurate.
Gathered evidence!
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Warrant Also called the bridge.
This is the connection between
the data gathered and the
evidence presented and put all
together.
 1
Backing Also called the foundation.
This backs up the Warrant, by
reasoning or logic.
 1
Counterclai This claim usually disagrees
m with the thesis statement also
known as the Main Claim.
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Rebuttal The evidence that disagrees
with the counterclaim.
 Claims of Fact

1 2 3
This claim has to Has to resolve an For example: The flu
establish an argument over epidemic was one of
arguable idea. something. the most
devastating
epidemics of all
time.
 Claims of Cause and Effect

Thisis a claim that either a person, place or

thing caused something to occur.
Forexample: Smoking Cigarettes can cause
lung cancer.
 Claims About Value

1 2 3
This can be This is a claim that For example: Men
comparative, it is not factual, it is are better drivers
can show if more based on than women.
something is more your opinion about
or less desirable. a particular thing.
 Claims About Policy

1 2 3
Anytime there is a This is an argument For example:
claim about Policy, for a course of action, Legislation should ban
trying to persuade the sale of cigarettes
the word should you to do a certain to teens at eighteen.
should be used. type of action.
 Two Types of Arguments

Traditional argument versus Rogerian argument.

Traditional
argument- one assumes that people are convinced or
persuaded by confrontational debate on the issue, the writer argues
reasonably but the argument becomes a war, or struggle in the end.
When writing a traditional argument you have to always begin with
thesis statement, then give evidence and facts, there is always a
winner in the end.
Rogerianargument- primary goal is not to win the argument but to
open the lines of communication, the writer must establish common
ground (where everyone agrees, or has the same thoughts), this
ends up being compromise or workable solution in the end.