Class Three

March 2, 2010
Topic: What's the next after problem statement?

Parts of Argument

1) Problem Statement - > Claim/Solution
2) Reasons
3) Evidences: {statistics, case studies, expert opinion, anecdotal evidence/hearsay}
4) Acknowledge + Response
5) Warrants: value assumption

Argument Boxes

- > Problem Statement / Claims
- > Warrants (what do you value?) - Warrants could be in the middle of Reasons or better be put before the reasons
- > {Reason 1 - Evidence A; Reason 2 - Evidence B; Reason 3 - A+R}
* each reason goes to "Claim"
** note the differences between "Warrants" here and the "Stakes" in Problem Statement part: Warant is what you value (e.g.: an environmental company must value the long-term environment); "Stakes" are why the readers should care.
- > Conclusion: one of the ways to do it is - assuming your readers have accepted your claims, what's the next step?

Logic Fallacies

1. Staw man: simple argument, just to burn it down;
2. Petitio principle - begging the question - circular logic, including the conclusion in the premise;
3. Redutio ad absurdom - slipping slope. e.g.: if we approve gay marriage, then next time we would approve marriage between human and dog...
4. Guilt by Association: e.g.: you can't attack a man and then hence attack his/her country/race
5. ad Hominean / "tu quoque" - arguing against human/personal