Argumentation

Content

• Components of argumentation
• Types of persuasive speeches
• Examples of argumentation

The argumentation is a presentation of information whose purpose is to demonstrate, through logical reasoning, the validity of a point of view, an opinion or a perspective.

To argue, you can use comparisons, quotes, hypotheses, explanations and any debate and negotiation procedure that is necessary to defend your positions and attack the opposite.

Arguments, however, are not the same as opinions. The latter are born from a more or less informed personal appreciation of the matter under debate, while the arguments are always based on a logical model of reasoning, that is, they provide support and have persuasive capacity.

• See also: Argumentative texts

Components of argumentation

An argumentation usually includes the following elements:

• Thesis. A main conclusion for which (or against) which is argued.
• Premises. A set of information and previous observations from which it is possible to infer the thesis.
• Arguments. Reasoning that shows how the thesis is obtained from the premises.
• Counterarguments. Reasonings that either attack the premises and the opposing reasoning, or protect their own from the attacks of the opposite. They can identify fallacies, argumentative flaws or provide examples and counterexamples.
• Conclusions. Take for granted any of the thesis in conflict, or even negotiate the development of a new thesis as a whole that is the product of the debate and that satisfies the premises of the opposing parties.

It can help you: Arguments of authority

Types of persuasive speeches

Argumentation theory identifies three types of persuasive speech:

• Demonstration. He arrives at the thesis from the premises, through deductive reasoning, that is, talking about facts and objective data. It does not establish subject marks (references to the person making the statement or their views).
• Argumentation. It seeks to convince the contrary to accept the thesis through a system of causes and consequences, taking advantage of the common context, the given conditions and making use of rhetorical resources (rhetorical questions, false concessions, etc.).
• Description. It is an intermediate option between the demonstration and the argumentation, since it consists of offering objective and punctual information on the matter, to find a common point between those who debate. Although it seeks to convey objectivity, that objectivity can be questioned since every description emphasizes certain convenient aspects.

Examples of argumentation

1. Anti-cigarette ads. Currently, cigarette boxes contain messages warning about the possible damage to health that their consumption produces, and they are accompanied by explicit or suggestive photographs that provide a visual and emotional impact to medical warnings. This set is intended to persuade the consumer to give up the cigarette habit.
2. An electoral campaign. During the electoral campaign for public office such as the presidency of the country, for example, the opponents undertake speeches and public debates in which they try to convince the majority of the population of their ideas regarding the economy, the social, the political and thus win your favor. To do this they must argue their point of view and defend it from the questions of journalists and their opponents.
3. A school debate. When a debate is organized at school and two groups of boys oppose each other around a topic to be discussed, both sides must use argumentation and reasoning to defend their position on the topic and attack the other's, thus winning most points in the debate.
4. A judicial resolution. The judges and courts have the role of evaluating the arguments of the parties to a litigation or a dispute and reaching an agreement between the parties, ruling in favor or against the defendant. For this, both parties hire lawyers whose role will be to argue for or against and thus try to demonstrate the validity of their perspective of the litigation over that of their opponent.
5. An advertisement. Most advertisements support their promotion of a product on promises and procedures of an emotional nature, but they also use argumentation to the extent that they explain to us, more or less convincingly, why we should prefer their product and not that of the competition. Reasons like price, quality and other arguments can be part of that process.
6. A marriage argument. Although this type of conflict is rarely resolved through logical and argumentative reasoning, in theory a husband and wife argue to try to defend their feelings and reasoning about life together and to reach an agreement with the other. These types of negotiations can get very heated, of course, but undoubtedly everyone will argue as best they can in favor of their position.
7. A haggle. Haggling is the offer and counter offer of prices for a product or good offered, between the seller and a specific applicant.In this case, both are intertwined in a debate regarding the property in dispute, arguing why they should pay more or less than the agreed price and trying to persuade the other party to accept their terms of the deal.
8. A thesis defense. In the thesis defenses in the academy, students seek to defend their research project from the argumentative attacks of the jury, which in turn intends to question their methods or present doubts so that the aspiring professional can argue and thus demonstrate their knowledge of the area.
9. A mathematical theorem. The Pythagorean theorem, for example, proposes that in a right triangle the sum of the square of the legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. This hypothesis is demonstrated through the arithmetic resolution (resolution of a problem) of the postulate, in which the values ​​chosen do not matter, the law of proportions will always be fulfilled.
10. A request for funding. An applicant, owner of a commercial project, asks the bank for loan financing of the initial investment of his business. In order for the bank to approve it, you will have to argue and demonstrate that your business is a good idea, that it is profitable, that you have the necessary studies in the area and that the success rates are high. Otherwise they will not lend you the money.

• Continue with: What are fallacies?