ARGUMENTATION is a form of

instrumental communication
relying on reasoning and proof to
influence belief or behavior
through the use of spoken or
written messages.”
Karyn Charles Rybacki and Donald Jay
Rybacki, Advocacy and opposition, Chapter
8: What should I avoid? Pearson. 2004. p
142-163.
An academic argument is defined as…

Taking a debatable position,

presenting evidence and
using sound logic to
convince the audience to
accept (or at least consider)
your position.

Note: statements of personal

preference or taste are not typically
suited for an academic argument.
 BASIC PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT

ASSERTION REASONING EVIDENCE

01
ASSERTION
• is the thesis statement or the main point of
an argument.

• is a statement about what is true or good or

about what should be done or believed.

• is potentially arguable.

Example: Recent tax cuts should be abandoned.

 ● is the “because” part of an argument.
● is a statement that supports a given claim
● reasons are answers to the hypothetical
challenge: “Why do you say that?” or “What
justifications can you give me to believe
that?”
● The most important things to emphasize
are the use of the word “because” as a cue
and the need to connect the statement and
the reasoning. It gives support to the
assertion.

Example: because they only benefit the rich.

 • supports reasoning.
• substantiates the reasons offered and helps
compel audiences to accept an advanced claim.
• offers challenges and support to the reasons
given.
• There are many different kinds of evidence,
ranging from expert testimony or statistics to
historical or contemporary examples.

Example: Statistics show that the majority of the tax cuts are
targeted at upper middle class and upper-class families, not poor
families and individuals.
 WHOLE ARGUMENT
CLAIM: Recent tax cuts should be
abandoned.
REASON: because they only benefit the rich.
EVIDENCE: Statistics show that the majority
of the tax cuts are targeted at upper middle
class and upper-class families, not poor
families and individuals.
Recognizing and
Identifying
Faulty Reasoning
In formulating an argument, there are
some faults that one has to avoid:
01
Lack of understanding
of terms
• All terms used in an
argument must be clearly
defined.
02
Hasty generalization
• Enough cases should support the
conclusion arrived to. Do not jump to a
conclusion after insufficient number of
examples.

Example: Some professional baseball

players use performance enhancing drugs
therefore all professional baseball players
are drug addicts.
03
Opinion substituted by
fact
• Opinion are just opinions and they
should not be taken as facts.

Example: The best president of all time is

Mr. XYZ since he knows how to dance and
is very good-looking.
04
Misuse of facts
• Be sure facts, not just half-truths, are
given.

Example: Ads of XYZ toothpaste claim that

the users of the toothpaste report 25%
fewer cavities in a research done by an
independent laboratory. What the ad does
not say is that only twelve people were
interviewed in the “research.”
05
Lack of reliable
authority
• Authorities must be reputable,
recognized as authorities, and up-to-
date.

Example: My parents went to school, so

they know everything about the education
system.
06
Name-calling
• This fault in reasoning seriously
weakens an argument and should be
avoided. It means diverting the reader’s
attention from the facts by questioning
the integrity, morality, intelligence, etc.,
of the speaker or writer.

Example: Do not vote for Mr. X because he

is inexperienced in governance and he did
not finish college.