|
Argument Handouts
These handouts are adapted from the LRS curriculum and from Colomb and
Williams, The
Craft of Argument. New York, Longman, 2003.
The first version of this archive was compiled by Jim Cocola.
| Argument Overviews | Claims and Reasons | Evidence | Warrants | Acknowledgment and Response
Argument Overviews
The Five Questions of Argument (adapted
by Andrea Bobotis)
Shorter Five Questions of Argument
Argument Stations (adapted by Jason Coats)
These stations, each briefly summarizing a different part of argument, can be used to introduce the parts of argument and for various classroom exercises. One example: Post
in different parts of the classroom. Divide students into groups, making each group responsible for a part of argument. Each group presents its part of argument, provides examples, or contributes a part to an argument being developed by the class.
What Makes an Argument? (adapted by Melissa White)
Overview of the five questions and five parts of argument, with emphasis on what makes an exchange an argument.
Argument Chart
This chart defines the parts of argument and gives examples based on the
worst teacher exercise.
The Five Parts of Argument (Plus One) (adapted by Kevin Seidel)
Bullet-point explanations of the five parts of argument, plus qualifications.
Argument Review (adapted by Joley Wood)
Retrospective overview of the parts of argument with an emphasis
on qualifications. You can substitute examples and explanations related to your course theme.
Nine Degrees of Argumentative Success
Different degrees of persuasion, depending on reader's response
to the argument.
Five Ways Arguments Can Fail to Persuade
Based on reader responses to evidence, warrants.
Where Good Arguments Go Bad (adapted
by Michael LeMaster)
Worksheet: Evaluating Arguments
This checklist helps students to analyze the structure of their own
arguments as they plan and revise.
Worksheet: Analyzing Arguments in Readings (adapted
by Ellen Malenas)
Students fill out this worksheet as they read.
BACK TO TOP
Claims and Reasons
Worksheet: Ranking Claims (adapted by Cinnamon Grabill)
Worksheet: Evaluating Global Claims (adapted by Michael LeMaster)
Worksheet: Claims and Reasons (adapted by Clare Terni)
These are all variations on the claim rank exercises that can be adapted with thematic material.
Argument House Plan (Jason Coats)
This handout uses the metaphor of a house as it asks students to
consider the most effective way to order their reasons.
Parallel and Sequential Reasons (adapted by Hannah Phelps)
This handout describes various relationships between reasons/evidence and the global claim and discusses different strategies for ordering reasons.
BACK TO TOP
Evidence
Evidence Overview (adapted by Clare Terni)
Five Maxims of Quality Evidence (adapted by Melissa White)
Evaluating Web Pages (Todd Burks, Clemons Library)
Literary Evidence: The PARSA Test (adapted
by Bart Welling)
This handout is a longer version of the Five Maxims that applies
these principles to literary evidence. It can
be adapted with thematic examples.
BACK TO TOP
Warrants
Warrants Overview (adapted by Hannah Phelps)
This handout includes questions to help writers decide when they need to put a warrant on the page.
BACK TO TOP
Acknowledgment and Response
Acknowledgment and Response Overview
Acknowledgement and Response: Imagining Alternatives (adapted by Lindsay Wright)
This overview focuses on imagining alternative interpretations/finding them in the readings and on locating A/R in papers.
BACK TO TOP
|
