Basics of Argument Writing

Argument writing is focused on making logical appeals to an audience. Argument writing involves claims, evidence,
warrants, rebuttals and conclusions. It is the heart of academic writing.
The Vocabulary of Argument
Based on Toulmins Scheme

Claims: A statement of opinion about policies, judgments and facts supported by logical reasoning.

Evidence: Observable and quantifiable data that a writer uses to support a claim.

Warrant: The common sense rule that explains the evidence. These rules are generally accepted as true.
These include universally accepted cause/effect, laws, scientific rules, general definitions, etc. Certain rules
that connect evidence back to claimshow the evidence supports the claim.

Rebuttal: Despite the careful construction of the argument, there may still be counter-arguments that can be
used. Consider how people might challenge your claim and evidence. Your rebuttal is how you make your
argument safe against the counterargument.

We will use the formal structure of argument to practice making arguments of fact: arguments that seek to prove the
truth of an assertion based on facts.
Arguments of Fact: Murder Mystery
Model: Is the following illustration an example of murder (externally inflicted) or suicide (self-inflicted)? Find two
pieces of evidence (specific facts/information from the picture) to support your claim (answer to question).

Claim: The following illustration is an example of _________________________.

Evidence #1:
Rule/Warrant #1:
Evidence #2:
Rule/Warrant #2:

Slip or Trip?

At five-feet-six and a hundred and ten pounds, Queenie Volupides was a sight to behold and to clasp.
When she tore out of the house after a tiff with her husband, Arthur, she went to the country club where there was a
party going on.
She left the club shortly before one in the morning and invited a few friends to follow her home and have
one more drink. They got to the Volupides home about ten minutes after Queenie, who met them at the door and
said, Something terrible happened. Arthur slipped and fell on the stairs. He was coming down for another drink
he still had the glass in his handand I think hes dead. Oh, my Godwhat shall I do?
The autopsy conducted later concluded that Arthur had died from a wound on the head and confirmed that
hed been drunk.

Crime Scene Investigation:

Your goal: Determine what happened do we believe Queenie? Identify as much evidence from the picture as you
can to support your view. Look closely at the picture and jot down your ideas below.

Drop Out

As the clock struck five, ninety-year-old Mrs. Mirabell Fallwell dropped out of the window of her spacious
twelfth-floor apartment. On the fourth stroke she struck.
Detective Amos Shrewd investigated shortly afterwards and found the room as you see it. Jerry Jarvis, Mrs.
Fallwells nephew and heir, said the portrait on the wall of his beloved aunt was one that he himself had painted.
Under questioning, he claimed that he had been at the far end of the apartment at the time of the tragedy and that
he knew nothing about it until informed by the police.
Is you were Shrewd, would you charge Jarvis with homicide?
Crime Scene Investigation:
Your goal: Determine what happened do we believe Jarvis? Identify as much evidence from the picture as you can
to support your view. Look closely at the picture and jot down your ideas below.

Assignment on Evidence and Rules

Your group is an investigative team that must determine what may have happened. You can either agree or disagree
with the witnesss version.
1. Do you think the witness is telling the truth? Draft a claim.
2. Find all the evidence you can that indicates whether or not the witness is telling the truth. Make a list of all
the evidence. Evidence includes concrete, observable information; personal testimony; written documents;
and material objects and their condition or appearance.
3. Next explain how each piece of evidence supports your claim that the witness is or is not telling the truth.
Each explanation will be a generally accepted rule, which may begin with a phrase such asm As a rule If
other members of your team disagree with you, find evidence that will convince them.
4. Explain why your evidence supports your case or leads you to a conclusion.
5. Use your evidence and conclusions to solve the case and craft a call to action.
Claim: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence
1.

Rule/Warrant
As a rule,

Conclusion
So,

2.

3.

4.

5.

Conclusion/Call to Action: (what happened here and what should happen NEXT?)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow-Up Question: If we really were an investigative team and this were a real crime, to whom would we have to
write a report? What exactly would we need to explain to them in the report (what information to include)?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

The Lunchroom Mystery

On an otherwise uneventful Thursday afternoon police heard a shot inside Ernies Lunchroom, rushed in,
and found the scene shown in the picture above.
They identified the body as that of a prominent racketeer named Fannin. Ernie, who is both the owner and
only employee, had only one fact to tell: the murderer had leaned against the wall while ring at point-blank
range. The imprint of his hand is in clear view. The cash register has just been rung up at $8.75.
Directions: This is a difficult case. Your investigative team must attempt to determine which of the people in the
lunchroom killed Fannin. You will have to observe the details carefully. There is enough evidence to help you explain most
of what happened. In working out the solution, consider the following questions.
Claim/Conclusion: Who killed Fannin? How do you know?
Work backward to solve the case!
Outline all the evidence and all of the warrants necessary to support this claim.
1. With what hand did the shooter fire the gun? What is the evidence? What is the rule?
2. Did customers B, C, and D know each other? What are the evidence and rules?
3. How do the three customers differ in their habits or ways of doing things? What is the evidence and what is the
rule?
4. Which set of footprints are Ernies? What is the evidence? What is the rule?
5. To whom do the set of footprints marked X belong? How do you know?

Argument Planning:
Claim: ________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence
1.

Rule/Warrant
As a rule,

Conclusion
So,

2.

3.

4.

5.

Conclusion/Call to Action:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow-Up:
After you have planned out your argument, write up an investigators report (essay) of the case:
Paragraph one: Describe the scene of the crime and the evidence that you noticed and who you believe to be
responsible.
Paragraph two: Explain each piece of evidence in detail and what you believe that evidence shows. For example:
Footsteps X step through the wet floor, this probably means
Paragraph three: Write your conclusion of the case who do you think shot Fannin and why do you think that?