Tips on How to Analyze and Argument

Analyze the Argument

- Openings:

This argument concludes thatÐ'...

It bases this prediction on two pieces of evidenceÐ'...

The author concludes thatÐ'...

As evidence for her conclusion, she/he explains thatÐ'...

This argument draws a great-sounding conclusion from some flimsy-sounding evidence.

- Second Paragraph:

Indeed, this chain of evidence does seem to make it clear thatÐ'...

If the scenario described by the evidence is accurate, then the argument is quite convincing. But what is the author assuming?

First,Ð'...

Second, the argument assumes that Ð'...

However, the evidence cited relates only to Ð'... and makes no reference to Ð'...

Also, Ð'...

In addition, the author merely assumes that Ð'...

The assumption of Ð'... is flawed because the argument fails to Ð'...

Finally, Ð'...

- End:

As mentioned above, this argument is convincing if one can believe that the evidence presented is correct.

Some of the assumptions linking the various pieces of evidence, however, are quite easy to undermine without additional proof in the form of evidence. To make this argument more persuasive, I would look for facts to back up the author's assertions, perhaps statistics that show how Ð'...

Information about Ð'... would also be helpful in making an evaluation of the validity of the conclusion.

Overall, while the evidence seems to form a solid structure of support for the conclusion of this argument, the author should seek additional facts to strengthen her/his chain of unsupported assumptions.

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