Claim or Conclusion: the position being argued for; the conclusion of the argument
Grounds, Reasons, or Facts: reasons or evidence that support the claim
Warrant: the connection between the grounds/reason and the claim, the underlying assumption that must be true for the claim to be logical, rarely explicit
Argument based on Generalization
Assumes that what is true of a well chosen sample is likely to hold for a larger group or population, or that certain things consistent with the sample can be inferred of the group/population.
Argument based on Analogy
Extrapolating from one situation or event based on the nature and outcome of a similar situation or event. Has links to ‘case-based’ and precedent-based reasoning used in legal discourse. What is important here is the extent to which relevant similarities can be established between 2 contexts. Are there sufficient, typical, accurate, relevant similarities?
Argument via Sign/Clue
The notion that certain types of evidence are symptomatic of some wider principle or outcome. For example, smoke is often considered a sign for fire.
Causal Argument
Arguing that a given occurrence or event is the result of, or is affected by, factor X.
Argument from Authority
Does person X or text X constitute an authoritative source on the issue in question? What political, ideological or economic interests does the authority have? Is this the sort of issue in which a significant number of authorities are likely to agree on?
Argument from Principle
Locating a principle that is widely regarded as valid and showing that a situation exists in which this principle applies. Evaluation: Is the principle widely accepted? Does it accurately apply to the situation in question? Are there commonly agreed on exceptions? Are there ‘rival’ principles that lead to a different claim? Are the practical consequences of following the principle sufficiently desirable?
Backing: support, justification, reasons to believe the warrant
Rebuttal/Reservation: exceptions to the claim; description and rebuttal of counter-examples and counter-arguments
Qualification: specification of limits to claim, warrant and backing
Kayla | 2016
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