Informational Text Evaluating Arguments: Pro and Con

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Informational TextEvaluating Arguments Pro and
Con
Feature Menu
Informational Text Connecting to the
Literature Introducing the Informational Text
Vocabulary Informational Reading Focus
Evaluating Arguments Evaluating an
Argument Assignment
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Connecting to the Literature
Rolf Carlé in And of Clay Are We Created and
the selfless hero in The Man in the Water are
examples of people helping others in situations
of extreme danger. The two articles If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans and Good
Samaritans U.S.A. Are Afraid to Act discuss
whether such help should be required by law.
End of Section
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Evaluating an Argument
An argument is a series of statements designed to
convince you of something. You usually encounter
arguments in
politicians speeches
newspaper editorials
persuasive speeches
public debates
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Evaluating an Argument
Often you are faced with opposing arguments (pro
and con) on an issue.
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Evaluating an Argument
When faced with pro and con arguments, you need
to evaluate the arguments to figure out if they
are

• believable, or credible

• backed by evidence

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Evaluating an Argument
To evaluate the credibility, or believability, of
an argument, ask yourself the following
questions
1. Whats the claim, or opinion?
2. Whats the support?
3. Is the evidence comprehensive?
4. Whats the authors intent?
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Evaluating an Argument
Whats the claim or opinion? A claim/opinion is
the position on the issue the purpose behind the
argument.

• The claim represents the position the arguer is
  advocating.
• Basically, the claim is the essence of the
  argument.

People have a moral responsibility to help those
in need.
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Evaluating an Argument
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What is the authors claim in this paragraph?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What is the authors claim in this paragraph?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
We will have a stronger community if we recognize
our duty to help others.
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Evaluating an Argument
Whats the support? Authors use logical and
emotional appeals to support their views and
convince the reader.
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Evaluating an Argument
Logical Appeals Reasons are statements that
explain why an author holds an opinion or view.
Reasons must always be supported by evidence.
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Evaluating an Argument
Emotional Appeals
Loaded words have strong emotional connotations
or associations.
Anecdotes are brief stories or personal accounts
of an event or happening.
Note
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What types of appeals do the writers use to
support their claim?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What types of appeals do the writers use to
support their claim?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
Emotional appealsloaded language (choking,
loved ones).
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Evaluating an Argument
Evidence is the specific information that backs
up a reason.

• Evidence must be relevant to the reason. It must
  be directly and logically related to it.

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Evaluating an Argument
Is the evidence comprehensive? Authors must
provide enough evidence to back up their claims
and to make convincing arguments.

• Does the author support the claim with relevant
  reasons and evidence?

• Does the author use a good balance of logical and
  emotional appeals?

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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
How well have the authors supported their claim?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
How well have the authors supported their claim?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
They have relied too much on emotional appeal in
supporting their claim.
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Evaluating an Argument
Whats the authors intent? When an authors
intent, or purpose, is to persuade readers to
accept his or her view on an issue, be sure to
ask yourself the following questions

• Is the author biased or prejudiced?

• Is the author trying to be fair and balanced?

• What is the authors tone, or attitude toward the
  subject?

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Evaluating an Argument
Note
Be wary of writers who rely heavily on emotional
appeals in an argument. Too many emotional
appeals may be sign that the writers argument is
weak.
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What is the authors intent here? What is their
attitude and tone?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
End of Section
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Evaluating an Argument
Quick Check
What is the authors intent here? What is their
attitude and tone?
The real reason people dont reach out is
because they feel disconnected from strangers in
need. Yet the child at risk, the injured
motorist, the choking restaurant patron could be
any one of us or our loved ones. If each of us
recognized a moral responsibility to come to the
aid of others, we would all gain the benefits of
a stronger and safer community. from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by
Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)
Their intent is to persuade. Their tone and
attitude are earnest and concerned.
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Assignment
Use the chart below to evaluate the arguments
presented in If Decency Doesnt, Law Should Make
Us Samaritans and Good Samaritans U.S.A. Are
Afraid to Act.
End of Section
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The End
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Evaluating an Argument
Tone is conveyed through the writers choice of
words and details.
Law students are taught that if someone is
choking on a chicken bone in a restaurant, not
only are other patrons not required to give the
Heimlich maneuver, call an ambulance, or do CPR,
but in fact the other patrons could, without
violating any law, even dance around the gasping
victim, singing, Chicken bone! Chicken bone!
Choking on a chicken bone! from If Decency
Doesnt, Law Should Make Us Samaritans by Gloria
Allred and Lisa Bloom (from the Houston
Chronicle, September 18, 1997)