Academic Literacies 2

Lecture Week 5:
Argumentation: An introduction
Lecture outline
 Defining features of argumentation
 Persuasion and truth in academic writing
 Reading arguments
 The Toulmin Model of Argument/Logic

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Writing a critique/review

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Argument analysis: an example
 “Hospital statistics regarding people who go to
the emergency room after roller skating accidents
indicate the need for more protective equipment.
Within this group of people, 75 percent of those
who had accidents in streets or parking lots were
not wearing any protective clothing (helmets,
knee pads, etc.) or any light reflecting material
(clip-on lights, glow-in-the-dark wrist pads, etc.).
Clearly, these statistics indicate that by investing
in high-quality protective gear and reflective
equipment, roller skaters will greatly reduce their
risk of being severely injured in an accident.”
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The Toulmin Model of Argument
 The elements of an argument
 Claim
 Grounds
 Warrants
 Backing
 Rebuttal
 Qualification
(Ebest et al. 2005:373)

 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourc
e/588/03/
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Assessment
 Argument analysis and evaluation
 “Educating free minds only route to true
ethics”
 Argument analysis: 20%
 Analyse and write a critique of an
argument: 800 words
 Submission: Week 10 to your lab tutor
(hard and soft copy)
 Assignment available on SULIS (resources)

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Defining features of argumentation
 Misconceptions associated with arguments
 Heated disagreement
 Anger
 Debate
 Winners and losers

 What then is our ideal image of

argument?

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Defining features of argumentation
 Creative
 Productive
 Inquiring (cooperative inquiry)
 Seeking solutions to complex problems
 Critical thinking
 Desire for truth
 Aim: “to find and promote the best belief
or course of action” (Rammage et al.
2006:4).

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Defining features of argumentation
• ‘An argument is the case that someone
makes, in a theory or in their writing… you
give reasons for saying what you do, and
present evidence to support what you say’
(Ebert et al., 1997).

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Defining features of argumentation
 “Argument requires justification of its
claims, it is both a produce and a process,
and it combines elements of truth seeking
and persuasion” (Rammage et al.
2006:3).
 Arguments can be explicit or implicit.
What is the difference between an explicit
and an implicit argument?

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Persuasion and truth in academic
writing
 Because they are argumentative, academic
writing tends to be persuasive.
 An argument should be persuasive, but don’t
sacrifice truth in favour of persuasion.
 Academic inquiry is a truth-seeking pursuit.
 Facts are distinguished from opinions.
 Subjective truths are distinguished from
objective truths.
 Relativetruths are distinguished from
absolute truths.
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Persuasion and truth in academic
writing
 The integrity of the conclusions reached in an
academic essay or report is based on its
honest pursuit of truth.
 Its persuasive quality is based on the quality
of its appeals.
 Although largely dependent on logic, proof,
and method, academic texts do appeal to the
reader’s emotions and regard for authority as
well as to reason.

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Reading arguments
 Rammage et al. (2006:23)
“[…] five strategies that will help you
listen to the arguments you encounter,
resist simplistic answers, delve into
multiple views, and emerge from your
intellectual wrestling with informed,
deepened, and supportable solutions to
problems.”

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Reading arguments
 Read as a believer.
 Read as a doubter.
 Explore how the rhetorical context and
genre are shaping the argument.
 Consider alternative views and analyze
sources of disagreement.
 Use disagreement productively to prompt
further investigation.
(Rammage et al. 2006:23)

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Writing critically
 Critical academic writing is …

 http://www.uefap.com/writing/function/cri
t.htm

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Readings for next week
 The Owl at Purdue, Establishing Arguments:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/
1/
 The OWL at Purdue, Developing Strong Thesis
Statements:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/
01/
 Writing from A-Z, Method of Development.
 Writing from A-Z, pp. 8-11 (Development
Strategies).

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Resources
 Gillet, A., Hammond, A. and Martala, M.
(2009) Successful Academic Writing.
London: Pearson Education Limited.
 Ramage, J.D., Bean, J.C. and Johnson, J.
(2006) Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric
with Readers, 7th ed. London: Longman.

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