Mastering Reasoned Argument Strategies in Critical Thinking

HSD L4 TOPIC 1 MODULE 2 MALUTI TVET BETHLEHEM Mrs C Schnetler

Applying critical thinking to topics and issues REASONED ARGUMENT PRESENTING A REASONED ARGUMENT MEANS: * GIVING REASONS FOR YOUR POINT OF VIEW * UNDERSTANDING A CONTRASTING POINT OF VIEW * CONVINCING YOUR READERS OR LISTENERS THAT YOUR POINT OF VIEW IS CORRECT * THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT THE FACTS AND OPINIONS. * PROVIDE EVIDENCE OR PROOF BY RESEARCHING REASONS FOR OPINIONS. * THINK CALMLY WHEN DELIVERING ARGUMENT. * THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW TO DELIVER ARGUMENT TO BE PERSUASIVE PERSUASIVE: CONVINCING; MAKING PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOUR POINT OF VIEW IS CORRECT

Applying critical thinking to topics and issues DEFINITION OF REASON REASONING MEANS: * HAVING GOOD SENSE * ABLE TO MAKE ACCURATE JUDGEMENTS REASON IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUALITY OF LOGIC. LOGIC = VALID = TRUE = ACCURATE ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF LOGIC A REASONED ARGUMENT MUST: * CONSIST OF REASONS FOR OPINIONS AND POINTS OF VIEW (CONTAIN REASONS SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE) * BE LOGICAL (FOLLOW A LOGICAL PATTERN)

Language in reasoned arguments RHETORICAL QUESTION RHETORICAL QUESTION IS: * A QUESTION THAT DOES NOT NEED AN ANSWER. * A STATEMENT THAT IS DISGUISED AS A QUESTION * MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A STATEMENT BECAUSE IT MAKES THE AUDIENCE THINK * FORMED BY TAKING THE STATEMENT AND CHANGING THE POSITIVE WORDS INTO NEGATIVE WORDS (CAN CANNOT) * OR IS FORMED BY USING A WORD THAT MEANS THE OPPOSITE OF THE WORD IN THE STATEMENT (BEAUTIFUL UGLY) * FORMED WHEN WE PLACE A QUESTION WORD SUCH AS HOW? AT BEGINNING OF THE SENTENCE EXAMPLE: HOW IS EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR GOOD FOR CHILDREN?

Language in reasoned arguments EMOTIVE LANGUAGE EMOTIVE LANGUAGE: * FORCES PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS * MAKES YOUR ARGUMENT MUCH MORE PERSUASIVE * USES IMAGINATION TO BUILD ON THE FACTS * USES IMAGINATION TO EMPHASISE THE EMOTION OF THE SITUATION * MAKES AN ARGUMENT MORE REAL- AUDIENCE CAN RELATE TO IT * MORE EFFECTIVE - AUDIENCE CAN SYMPATHISE

Language in reasoned arguments EXAGGERATION TO EXAGGERATE MEANS: * TO MAKE SOMETHING SEEM MORE THAN WHAT IT IS * CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT MORE PERSUASIVE * TO BEND THE TRUTH A LITTLE TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT MORE CONVINCING

Structure of a reasoned argument STRUCTURE OF REASONED ARGUMENT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. INTRODUCTION STATE KEY QUESTION ASKED PURPOSE PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENT CONCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS LIST OF REFERENCES

Structure of a reasoned argument 1. INTRODUCTION * TELL AUDIENCE WHAT ARGUMENT IS ABOUT 2. STATE KEY QUESTION ASKED * PUT BOTH SIDES OF ARGUMENT FORWARD YOURS AND OPPONENT S * OPPONENT S VIEW FIRST - YOU CAN SHOW YOUR VIEW IS BETTER 3. PURPOSE * EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE PRESENTING THE ARGUMENT * GIVE YOUR POINT OF VIEW (REASONS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES) AND THAT YOU WILL PERSUADE THEM THAT THIS POINT OF VIEW IS CORRECT 4. PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENT * INCLUDE EVIDENCE THAT YOUR POINT OF VIEW IS CORRECT: PROOF OF RESEARCH (MORE REASONS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES)

Structure of a reasoned argument 5. CONCLUDE * ROUND OFF ARGUMENT BY SUMMARISING BRIEFLY WHAT YOUR POINT OF VIEW IS (USE WORDS LIKE: THEREFORE, THUS, HENCE, SO) 6. RECOMMENDATIONS * THIS COMES AFTER THE ARGUMENT * YOU CAN SUGGEST ALTERNATIVES OR METHODS FOR YOUR POINT OF VIEW 7. LIST OF REFERENCES * LIST OF SOURCES OF EVIDENCE

Referencing REFERENCING: * REFERENCES TELL READERS AND AUDIENCE WHERE YOU FOUND YOUR EVIDENCE. * AUDIENCE AND READERS WILL TAKE YOUR ARGUMENT SERIOUSLY. * HARVARD SYSTEM OF REFERENCING: - GIVES GUIDELINES HOW TO RECORD SOURCES USED - REFERENCE IN CORRECT MANNER

Referencing REFERENCING BOOKS AUTHOR S SURNAME AUTHOR S INITIALS YEAR OF PUBLICATION TITLE OF BOOK PLACE OF PUBLICATION PUBLISHERS

Referencing REFERENCING NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AUTHOR S SURNAME AUTHOR S INITIALS YEAR NEWSPAPER WAS PRINTED HEADLINE OF ARTICLE NAME OF NEWSPAPER DATE NEWSPAPER WAS DISTRIBUTED PAGE ARTICLE WAS ON

Referencing REFERENCING WEBSITES NAME OF WEBSITE YEAR ARTICLE WAS POSTED TITLE OF ARTICLE MEDIUM WEBSITE ADDRESS DATE INFORMATION WAS FOUND

Possible Questions 1. DEFINE: * REASONED ARGUMENT * REASON * PERSUASIVE * VALID DISCUSS LANGUAGE IN REASONED ARGUMENTS: * RHETORICAL QUESTION * EMOTIVE LANGUAGE * EXAGGERATION LIST THE STRUCTURE OF A REASONED ARGUMENT APPLY THE STRUCTURE OF A REASONED ARGUMENT WITH EVERYDAY TOPICS APPLY REFERENCING TECHNIQUES EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED TO REFERENCE 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.