Argument reconstruction worksheet

Select a passage from one of your Science Communication sources. Analyse the argument using the four steps of argument
reconstruction below. Remove the ‘points to consider’ (presented in blue) to populate this worksheet. After completing the
worksheet, make an assessment of how well the argument holds.

In the class meeting, you are will be asked to share your completed worksheet and deliver a 2-minute presentation that:
● Introduces the article (title, author, publication info)
● Identifies the argument
● Identifies the author’s explicit (and, if relevant, implicit) premise/s and conclusion
● Presents the argument in formal logic.

Step 1. Look for the premises and
conclusions
Step 2. Paraphrase the argument
Place your passage here:
“We think the relative higher risks of depression found in sprawling, low-rise suburbs may
be partly down to long car commutes, less public open space and not high enough
resident density to enable many local commercial places where people can gather
together, such as shops, cafes and restaurants. But of course, there may be many other
factors, too.”

APA 7th style reference:

Step 3. Look for the implicit
Step 4. Consider structure
Chen K & Barthel S, (2023-5-23) Depression is more common in the suburbs than in
city centres – new research , The Conversation, Retrieved from
https://theconversation.com/depression-is-more-common-in-the-suburbs-than-in-city-
centres-new-research-206311
Identify the ● What point is the author trying to make?
conclusion
● Caution: The conclusion won’t always be the first or the last sentence in the passage; it may
not even be explicitly stated.
● Look for ‘signpost’ words like because, since, obviously, clearly
There is higher risk of depression in low-rise and single family housing suburbs.

Identify the ● What evidence does the author present for the conclusion?
premise/s ● Caution: Not all the information will be relevant and may not be presented in a precise order.
● Look for 'signpost' words like so, therefore, hence, thus.

P1: lack of sufficient open public spaces

P2: long commutes to work
P3: lack of sufficient resident density to enable people to gather together
C: low-rise and single-family housing suburbs have highest risk of depression.

Convert, ● Convert non-statements (like rhetorical questions) into statements.

 ● Condense the argument to support clarity and remove redundant details.
condense, and
clarify ● Clarify ambiguous and vague sentences.
● Reread the passage a few times, stopping to look up any unfamiliar words. Be sure you understand
the important terms.

Low-rise and single-family housing suburbs show the highest risk of depression and some of the factors
responsible are lack of sufficient open public spaces, long commute for work for residents and not large
enough number of residents to enable people to gather.

Summarise the
● Put the argument in your own words (be charitable in your presentation of the argument)
argument

Low-rise and single-family home suburbs have the highest risk of depression. The influencing factors include a
lack of sufficient open public spaces, a lack of large enough residents to enable people to gather together and
long commutes for work.

Identify unspoken ● Does your argument contain partial, implicit, or missing premises?
assumptions
● Are there any claims that are inferred or implied?

The argument contains partial reasons for increased risk of depression.

 Identify complex ● Are there multiple conclusions?
arguments
● Are there smaller arguments building to the primary conclusion?

There is only one conclusion.

Now you have reconstructed an argument, consider whether it is a good or bad argument and whether you agree with it or not. Bring your
worksheet to this week’s class meeting.