When you read a text whose purpose is to persuade or argue a point, you need to analyze that text to see whether the argument is logical. Logical arguments need to be reasonable; supported with appropriate, relevant evidence from valid sources; and based on acceptable assumptions. Knowing a bit about logical arguments will help you analyze a text intended to persuade, as well as write your own persuasive, logical arguments.
Logical Argument Basics
Main Idea, Content, Warrant
The claim is the author’s main argument—what the author wants you to do, think, or believe by the time you finish reading the text. The content is the evidence which provides the support and reasoning upon which the claim is built. The underlying assumption, the way the author uses the evidence to support the claim, often called the warrant. These three parts of a logical argument all need to be believable and coordinated for the argument to be valid. [1]
You are viewing: Which Statement Supports The Author’s Main Claim
For example, the author’s main idea or claim may be this: Decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from car exhaust, manufacturing processes, fertilizers, and landfills, while slowing deforestation, may help slow the process of global warming. For this claim, the underlying assumption is that global warming is something that should be slowed. To support this claim and link the evidence with the claim, the author included the following types of content as evidence:
- Facts that show the linkage between increased carbon dioxide levels and warmer temperatures
- Statistics about temperature increases and their effects, and future projections based on current statistics
- Studies done showing that fuel emission laws enacted in a certain location cut down on carbon dioxide levels
- Citation of recognized experts in the field
- Testimony of those involved first-hand with the issue
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In this example, all of the argument parts coordinate with one another. The evidence seems appropriate, and is especially strong if it comes from valid sources such as scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The underlying assumption is supported by the evidence. As a reader analyzing the text, you could conclude that this is a logical argument.
On the other hand, the author’s argument may be this: Good nutrition should be taught in school rather than at home. For this claim, the underlying assumption might be that parents are not as good at teaching their children as trained teachers, or it might be that schools have more teaching resources than parents. To support this claim and link the evidence with the claim, the author included the following types of content as evidence:
- interviews with teachers
- interviews with school administrators
- statistics from studies done over time, showing that elementary school children who received lessons on good nutrition maintained good eating habits into adulthood more than those did not receive formal lessons
- personal interviews
In this example, it appears that the first warrant was in effect, based on the way the author linked claim and evidence. You might question the underlying assumption in the warrant, as many readers may not accept this belief. As an analytical reader whose purpose is to evaluate the text, you also might question the type of support. Teachers, school administrators, and people who were interviewed might be biased. Statistics on the effectiveness of teaching about nutrition in school do not track a comparative group of children who were taught at home, so the conclusions of the studies in this case might not fully relate to the argument. As a reader analyzing this text, you could conclude that the author’s argument is not logical.
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As you analyze an argument, try to isolate, identify, and investigate these three aspects of argument—main idea, content, warrant—to evaluate the quality of the text.
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Another complementary way to analyze an argument and evaluate a text is to investigate the three main types of appeals authors use to support their claim. These types of appeals are traditionally referred to by their Greek names: logos (appeal to logic), pathos (appeal to emotion), and ethos (appeal to authority).
Logical appeals may include facts, case studies, statistics, experiments, and expert testimony. Authoritative appeals may include citations of recognized experts and testimony of those involved first-hand in the issue. Emotional appeals may include personal anecdotes, stories, impact studies, and first-hand testimony. Many logical arguments rely on some combination of these three types of appeals. However, an argument may not be logical if a certain type of appeal does not coordinate with the claim, and/or if an author relies too heavily on emotional appeal, for example, to the exclusion of factual support.
The two videos below discuss how to apply these concepts to analyze an argument and thus evaluate a text.
Logical Fallacies
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHICH
