Introduction to Argument: Pretest



Introduction to Argument: Pretest

The purpose of argument writing is to present a position and to have an audience adopt or at least seriously consider your argument. Argument writing follows a specific structure and includes certain elements for effectiveness.

Directions: Answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability.

1. What are some qualities of a good argument. List at least four.

2. What do you know about writing an introduction for an essay?

3. What do you know about writing a conclusion of an essay?

4. How do you know if the evidence supporting an argument is valid or not?

Terminology—What do you think the following terms commonly used in formal argument mean?

Directions: Guess the possible definitions to the following words by matching them to the provided definitions.

A. Argument

B. Assertion

C. Assumption

D. Authority

E. Bias

F. Citing

G. Claim

H. Credible

I. Deductive Reasoning

J. Ethos

K. Evidence

L. Fact

M. Inductive Reasoning

N. Logos

O. Opinion

P. Pathos

Q. Rebuttal

R. Refute

S. Source

T. Warrant

1. _____ The action or process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea, action, or theory

2. _____ An assertion or statement of the truth of something, supported by evidence

3. _____ Available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid

4. _____ Common sense rules that people accept as generally true, laws, scientific principles, and definitions

5. _____ Prejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue.

6. _____ A reliable, respected source—someone or something with verified knowledge

7. _____ A belief or statement taken for granted without proof

8. _____ An emphasized statement; declaration

9. _____ The proof that an argument or statement is wrong; the answer to an assumption, point of view or statement with which one disagrees

10. _____ To discredit an argument; particularly a counter argument

11. _____ A book, article, person or other resource consulted for information

12. _____ Worthy of belief; trustworthy

13. _____ Identifying a part of piece of information as being derived from a source

14. _____ Using or appealing to emotion to convince an audience or prove a point

15. _____ Using or appealing to reason and logic to convince an audience or prove a point

16. _____ Using the speaker’s appeal and his/her credibility/position to convince an audience or prove a point

17. _____ A method of organizing an argument generalizing from specific date

18. _____ A method of organizing an argument by drawing a conclusion based on general principle

19. _____ A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

20. _____ Something that is believed to have objective reality; a piece of information regarded as verifiable.

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Much of what you read in nonfiction, such as newspapers or magazines, is a mix of factual information and the opinions of the author. Often the opinions are disguised as fact, to make the author's argument seem more believable. For example:

"Registration and control of firearms in Canada is not supported by the Canadian

public, and will not lead to a decrease in gun-related crime in Canada."

The statement in BOLD is a fact.

(Notice, though, that even 'facts' can be misleading if not explained. What does 'supported' mean? The implication is that most people don't support gun control, but the actual figures indicate about a 50-50 split.)

The statement underlined is an opinion. It is obviously a conclusion, since we do not know what is going to happen.

There is nothing wrong with mixing opinions and fact together in an argument, of course ... it's done all the time. What is important is that the reader be able to distinguish the fact from the opinion, in order to make a sound judgment about the information they are receiving!

[pic]Task: recognize facts and distinguish them from opinions.

Top of Form

A statement of fact expresses only what actually happened, or what could be proven by objective data.

A statement of opinion expresses an attitude toward something – it makes a judgment, view, or conclusion, or gives an opinion that cannot be proven true or false.

Study the following groups of statements. In each case, identify the underlined portion as fact or opinion.

1. More and more women are deciding to give birth to their children at home. A hospital, after all, is not the best place for a baby to be born.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

2. More and more women are deciding to give birth to their children at home. A hospital, after all, is not the best place for a baby to be born.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

3. B. J. Vukovich, author of Claws, the best-written novel of the disaster genre, will speak at tonight’s “How I Became An Author” meeting.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

4. Philip Luttgen, satirical columnist for the Daily Views, will give a rebuttal entitled “What Is An Author?”

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

5. The national coal strike, now into its seventh week, has caused untold hardships on the miners, their families, and the rest of the winter-weary nation.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

6. Janet Guthrie, world famous auto racer, was the least nervous driver at the Indy 500.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________

7. Once the cavity reaches the dentin (the hard, dense, bone-like material that composes the principal mass of the tooth), it must be cleaned and filled. Some researchers, however, are beginning to question whether periodic cleaning and checking of the enamel (the calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth) plays a significant role in preventing tooth decay.

Fact or opinion?   ______________________ Bottom of Form

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