Argumentation & debate
Terms
- Inductive Reasoning
- based on probability; from specific to general
- Deductive Reasoning
- based on logic; from general to specific. Uses syllogistic form.
- Generalization
- using facts and arriving at a general conclusion based on those facts
- Overgeneralization
- reaching conclusions from a limited number of facts (look for words like "all," "every," and "always").
- Extrapolation
- prediction based on a generalization
- Thin-Entering-Wedge
-
a prediction based on an overgeneralization.
- Cause and Effect:
- occurrence is the direct cause of a resulting occurrence
- False Cause to Effect:
-
manipulation of apparent causes/ dependence on circumstancial reliance on superstitions and biased use of facts. Making a Associative Reasoning
- valid when the subject assumes responsibility for being associated with the group or person
- Guilt by Association
- the assumption that if X is associated with Y, then X must be like Yin all or many ways
- "Getting Personal":
- the legitimate use of relevant past personal information to make evaluations of individuals
- Ad Hominem
attacking the source of a statement rather than the statement itself.
- Testimony
- turning to experts for their knowledge
- Negative Testimony
- assumes that since the person said something, it is true. Often these individuals are biased, overextend their authority and lack expertisein specific fields
- Use of Statistics
numerical backup that is current, accurate, and properly interpreted.
- Poor Use of Statistics
- numerical backup that is outdated, poorly conducted, and interpreted incorrectly; therefore, distorting
- Either-Or:
- the suggestion that a complex problem can be stated as a choice between 2, and only 2, diametrically opposed positions
- Circular Reasoning:
A is true because of B, and B is true because of A. Presenting an argument in such a way that no real proof is given, rotating the or
- Irrelevant Argument
inserting into the reasoning process information or proof that has nothing to do with the issue being discussed.
- Self-Evident Truths
- the sender/receiver is supposed to accept the proposed idea as fact, as something so apparent that it is
- Scapegoating
blaming someone else, usually a subordinate or less powerful person
&- ARGUMENTATIVE STRATEGIES
To develop your solution as being the practical, desirable, or workable.
- CONTRACT
- Argument between rhetor and audience. Established in the introduction. Establish the subject matter, and urgency, and the crite
- ARGUMENT BY ELIMINATION
List the alternatives, but knock them out one at a time until your solution is the only one left.
- ANTITHESIS
Only two options are given for the solution, and they are the exact opposite of each other. I.e. We're all rich or we're all
- PROLEPSIS
Anticipatory refutation of opposition. Also known as the possible rebuttal. You anticipate the other side's ar
- SLIPPERY SLOPE
Your argument takes on a snowball effect to the extreme. For example, "If we legalize marijuana, then
- PRECEDENT
- Tell how your solution worked elsewhere. For example, marijuana is legal in Holland.
- ANALOGY
Compare parallel situations, from familiar to less familiar. For example, the US’s intervention in Bosnia is like parents settl
- DICHOTOMIES
Choose one of the following to develop or explain your argument:
Means/End;
- RHETORICAL QUESTION
You wouldn't let your children kill each other, would you? Not always used as an attention-getting opening, may be used as the cl
- OCCULTATION
- Saying in your speech what you're not going to say. It's effect, of course, is that you are saying it. "I'm no
- HYPERBOLE
- Gross Exaggeration
- SETENTIA
- Maxim or an authoritative statement that is part of the social wisdom. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" or "Nothing ve
- HASTY GENERALIZATION
What is true about a part is true about all parts, or what is true for one will be true for another. For example, Jimi Hendrix perfor
- POST HOC, ERGO PROCTOR HOS
(After the fact, therefore because of the fact) The Cowboys won three Super Bowls after Clinton was elected, so they won because Clin
- BANDWAGON
- The crowd is all doing it, so you'd better not be left behind!
- NON SEQUITAR
The argument does not follow or it's not in sequence. For example, Socrates is mortal because I was born in Ohio.
- FALSE DILEMMA
Failed antithesis. You are either a democrat or a republican. We know there are other options.
- REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM
- Slippery Slope - ridiculous
- LOADED QUESTIONS
- Have you stopped stealing from your boss? Assumes the negative behavior is already taking place.
- STRAWPERSON
Failed prolepsis. Refute a weak argument or granting a weak argument in your speech. E.g., I know some of you say
- QUOTING OUT OF CONTEXT
Movie reviews: "Incredible! Well Acted!" From
- AD HOMINEM (Against the man)
Attacking the other's character and not his ideas. Seen a lot at the Presidential campaigns.
- SCARE TACTICS
"If you don't do this...". Sometimes used in religion.
- ARGUMENT AD IGNORATIUM
Absence of proof is proof, or assuming something is because the opposite cannot be proven. Since we can't pr