Critical Thinking
Module: Understanding Argument Structure
Identifying claims, reasons, and conclusions
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Identifying claims, reasons, and conclusions
Understanding Argument Structure
Arguments play a critical role in reasoning. They present a set of claims and reasons that form the basis of concluding a line of thought.
Identifying Claims
- A claim is a statement or assertion that is open to challenge. It's the point an arguer is trying to make.
- A claim could be factual, value-oriented, or a policy recommendation. They essentially set the stage for the argument.
- Look out for subjective statements or opinions and interpret them as potential claims.
- Words like 'believe', 'should', 'ought to', 'must', etc., often precede claims.
- Always look to differentiate claims from established facts.
Identifying Reasons
- Reasons are statements provided to justify or back up a claim.
- Main and supporting points in any argument are often reasons.
- They sometimes begin with transitional words like because, since, for, in that, as shown by, and so on.
- Reasons are necessary to draw a conclusion from a claim and often provide evidence towards the claim.
Identifying Conclusions
- A conclusion is a claim that has been reached by a process of reasoning.
- Remember, conclusions are usually the main point that the author wants to convince the reader of.
- These can often be recognised by words like 'therefore', 'thus', 'hence', 'so', 'in conclusion', 'it follows that', and so on.
- Conclusions may not always appear at the end of an argument. Sometimes, they are stated at the beginning or interspersed throughout the argument.
- Be sure to differentiate between intermediate conclusions (support other conclusions) and main conclusions (aim of the argument).
Connecting Claims, Reasons, and Conclusions
- An argument can be seen as a structure with claims supported by reasons, leading to a conclusion.
- The authors often use indicators to help readers identify claims, reasons, and conclusions.
- Note that not all statements in an argument will be a part of claims, reasons, or conclusions. Look out for evidence, examples, elaborations, clarifications, and other such elements.
- Recognising the structure and flow of the argument is crucial to understanding the logic and criticism behind the argument.
- Critical thinking involves not only identifying these elements but also examining the credibility and relevance of reasons and the soundness of the overall argument.
