Evaluating Arguments and Writing Critical Essays
Evaluating Arguments and Writing Critical Essays
Evaluating Arguments and Writing Critical Essays
It is high time drivers turned to hybrid cars which run on gas and electricity
as an effective solution. These cars automatically turn off their engine
when they are not moving. They do not waste energy when they are stuck
in traffic or stop long at traffic lights. The electricity source in hybrid cars is
a battery. It recharges itself when drivers use the brake. That way, drivers
save their time plugging their cars in for a re-supply. Hybrid cars also have
smaller engines. This means they consume less gas. Regular cars
consume more gas than they do. Hybrid cars are a great choice for those
who care about fashion.
Task 1: Diagram the argument
6 + 8 + 3
1
(1) It is high time drivers turned to hybrid cars which run on gas and
electricity as an effective solution.
(2)These cars automatically turn off their engine when they are not moving.
(3)They do not waste energy when they are stuck in traffic or stop long at
traffic lights.
(4)The electricity source in hybrid cars is a battery.
(5)It recharges itself when drivers use the brake.
(6)That way, drivers save their time plugging their cars in for a re-supply.
(7)Hybrid cars also have smaller engines.
(8)This means they consume less gas.
(9)Regular cars consume more gas than they do.
(10)Hybrid cars are a great choice for those who care about fashion.
. (5)
|
(3) (6) (8) (9)
| | \ /
(2) + (4) + (7) + (10)
(1)
Task 2: Diagram the argument (correct)
Computer games separate frequent players from society so children cannot learn the important
lessons that require social interaction. In addition, children do not develop their mental skills
well if they are addicted to computer games because these games only focus on patterns.
Unlike traditional games which teach children how to work in a team or how to solve problems,
computer games give children no preparation for their future work or life. Undesirable
influences of computer games on children cannot be undermined.
TASK 3:
(1)For many IUers, the summer semester is not really discouraging.
(2) Most first-ear students have to spend one or two semesters on classes of intensive English
(3) so the summer semester helps them shorten their academic years.
(4) This 3rd semester is half length of the regular semesters
(5) so teachers plan more focused lesson contents.
(6) The mid-term exam is also combined with class time;
(7) therefore, its test contents are more or less adapted.
(8) Even though, the summer semester takes away the fun moments which most students look forward to.
2 4 6
3 5 7 8
1
Task 3: Diagram the argument (correct)
(1) For many IUers, the summer semester is not really discouraging.
(2) Most first-year students have to spend one or two semesters on
classes of intensive English
(3) so the summer semester helps them shorten their academic years
(4) This 3rd semester is half length of the regular semesters
(5) so teachers plan more focused lesson contents
(6) The mid-term exam is also combined with class time
(7) therefore, its test contents are more or less adapted.
2 4 6
3 5 7
1
Task 4: Diagram the argument
(1)
Task 4: Diagram the argument (correct)
(1) Television can play an important role in educating children but its overwhelming influences are really
worrying
(2) First, television has been increasingly replacing the traditional roles of families and schools
(3) so children’s attitudes and behavior have been changed as a result
(4) Second, children may watch violent scenes on TV
(5) and they become more and more aggressive
(6) This is because parental attention is not always available.
(7) Third, advertisements of processed foods and drinks are so frequent on TV
(8) TV commercials cause children to consume more and more unhealthy food.
2 4 7
3 + 5 + 8
1
Task 5: Standardize this argument and diagram it
Social media can be such a fun and entertaining way to communicate, catch up, and keep in touch with family
and friends who are far away. This is because this means of interactive communication allows users to call,
videocall, text, chat, or comment and reply to comments on their posts. In addition, when we join public pages
or groups of the same interests, we can learn from other members’ contributions and thus, we can have more
knowledge or skills. In contrast, social media can be such a distorted political, religious, gossip column that it
becomes a toxic space. Furthermore, social media can be a dangerous place because there are online predators
and online catfishing, and so on. Therefore, social media can be a beneficial and harmful environment.
(1)Social media can be such a fun and entertaining way to communicate, catch up… far away
(2) this means of interactive communication allows users to call, videocall, text, chat … their posts
(3) we join public pages or groups of the same interests,
(4) we can learn from other members’ contributions
(5)we can have more knowledge or skills
(6)social media can be such a distorted political, religious, gossip column
(7) that it becomes a toxic space.
(8)social media can be a dangerous place
(9)there are online predators and online catfishing, and so on
(10)Therefore, social media can be a beneficial and harmful environment
CHAPTER 8
Evaluating Arguments
and
Refuting Arguments
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN SO FAR?
accuracy
precision relevance
logic
fairness
completeness
How to make an argument ‘good’?
Clear
Be understandable
Correct (accurate + precise + logical)
Use exact language and avoid equivocation
Relevant
Avoid off-topic and off-track material
Consistent
Avoid logical contradictions
Complete
Do not ignore facts relevant to the conclusion
Fair
Do not hastily dismiss objections
Which standard(s) is/are missing?
Part 2: Refuting Arguments
correctly.
4. So, children should not be allowed unsupervised access
to the Internet.
* For inductive arguments, showing ONE false premise is not
sufficient to prove the conclusion is wrong.
Refuting Arguments
Example:
Roommate: Absolutely all killing is wrong.
You: Is it wrong to eat any plants or animals?
Refuting Arguments
Example:
A: All international academic institutions in Vietnam are private.
B: Wait a minute. HCMC International University is a public one.
Refuting Arguments
2. Show that the conclusion does not follow from the premises.
2. Show that the conclusion does not follow from the premises (cont’)
Example 1:
2. Show that the conclusion does not follow the premises (cont’)
Example 2:
I must ask my husband to buy me a Mercedes. Most of my
rich friends drive luxury cars.
to improve?
5 types of deductive argument and common fallacies
Task: Observe the picture and write the Task: Lan’s house is 200 km away from
addition in the boxes. school. Lan cycles to school in 10 hours.
So, Lan’s average speed is ____.
Common fallacies in arguments from definition
Darling,
There are 24 hours a day.
So, I save 1 second to breathe
and the remaining 23h99s to
miss you.
6 types of inductive argument and common fallacies
1. Generalization argument What is true for a/some members is true for a group
2. Predictive argument Assuming things stay the same while time changes
3. More than 100 students in our university have voted ‘No’ for the online final
exam. Probably all students prefer a serious exam on campus.
4. A meal in the canteen costs as much as our home-made meal. Thus, it provides
us with equivalent nutrition.
5. 53% of students in our class support the removal of PE (Physical Education) out
of the curriculum. Therefore, I’m sure my classmate Mary doesn’t like this
subject.
6. Invest in bitcoins and other virtual currencies to get huge returns. Don’t you see
some showbiz celebrities promote them on their pages?
Critical essay:
Responding to Arguments
6 STEPS
TO WRITE A GOOD RESPONSE TO ARGUMENT
1. Identify conclusion(s)
WHAT 2. Examine evidence closely
3. Organize and prioritize your points of
critique
“The rate of crimes committed by teenagers in the country of Alta has steadily
increased. This increase in teenage crime parallels the increase in violence
shown on television. According to several national studies, even very young
children who watch a great number of television shows featuring violent scenes
display more violent behavior within their home environment than do children
who do not watch violent shows. Furthermore, in a survey conducted by the
Observer, over 90% of the respondents were parents who indicated that prime-
time television - programs that are shown between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. - should
show less violence. Therefore, in order to lower the rate of teenage crime in
Alta, television viewers should demand that television programmers reduce the
amount of violence shown during prime time."
Analyze the argument
Body paragraphs 2 - 4
Summarize each point claimed to be a fallacy.
Refute it with your own claim.
Give reason(s) and example(s) to support your claim.
Wrap up with 1 concluding sentence. (optional)
Conclusion
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION
The author states that the rate of teenage crime in the country of
Alta has increased along with the increase in violence shown on
television. In addition, the author indicates several national
surveys that show young children watching violent television
programs are more prone to violence than children who do not.
The author also says that a survey indicated that 90% of parents
responding said that prime-time programs should show less
violence. These (premises) take the author to the conclusion that
to lower the rate of teenage crime in Alta, television watchers
should ask for a reduction in violence shown during prime time.
This argument suffers from several critical fallacies.
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Firstly, the author equates the rate of increase in teenage crime in Alta to the
increase in violence shown on television but gives no causal linkage other
than the similar time periods. This may be just a mere correlation. In
addition, the author makes no distinction between types of crimes - whether
they are violent or nonviolent crimes by teenagers - and (s)he oversimplifies
the cause of teenage crimes, that is, violent shows only. In fact, there are
several possible causes of the increase in teen crimes. For example, maybe
the police are now doing a better job of catching teenage criminals than they
were before. One more reason for the increase in teenage crime rate is
simply an decrease in the overall population, so that the same teenage
criminals seem to account for a higher rate than it was before. Without ruling
out these and other causes, the argument fails to convince by showing no
causal linkage between television violence and teenage crime.
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 2
Secondly, the author mentions some national studies that show that young
children that watch violent programs show more violent behavior at home than
children who do not watch such programs. This argument fails on two levels -
one by assuming that very young children and teenagers are equally affected
by television programs (weak analogy); and two by again assuming that there
is some type of cause-effect relationship between children’s bad behavior at
home and teenage crime in society (questionable cause). Young children and
teenagers are not the same in their awareness levels and it should not be
assumed that more violent behavior within the home leads to crimes in society
as these children grow into teenagers. This is because nurture at home and
discipline or order in society may influence children and teenagers in different
ways.
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH 3
Thirdly, the author offers a survey showing that 90% percent of the
respondents were parents indicating prime time television programs should
show less violence. However, the survey methods are not discussed - it is
possible that the sample was improperly chosen to include academic
parents that are very much opposed to television violence (biased
sample). Additionally, it is possible that 90% of the parents interviewed
belonged to a total number of 50 parents in a neighborhood of 300.000
residents (small sample). Therefore, it is hasty if the arguer bases his/her
conclusion on that possibly unrepresentative survey result.
SAMPLE CONCLUSION
All mothers should stay home with their young kids. It would
promote closer family ties, and studies show that children with
stay-at-home moms do better in school, have higher self-
esteem, and are less likely to get involved with drugs or
commit crimes.
Analysis
Premises:
The author claims that all moms should stay home because of the
good things for their babies. However, this argument commits the
fallacy of hasty generalization, since not all moms are rich or
supported by their husbands or not all of them are good moms. For
example, a poor mom has to work to support her kids, so she cannot
stay at home. Another example is that a drunk mom may not take
care of her children but hit them instead. Therefore, the author
should clearly indicate the types of mom or give their specific
conditions to avoid generalizing the argument hastily.
The author claims that all mothers should stay at home with their
young kids because it will improve their children academic
achievement and self-esteem while preventing/keeping them from
being involved with drugs and crimes. However, this argument
commits the fallacy of questionable cause because good performance
in school or high self-esteem of the children may not be linked to the
fact that their mothers stay at home. For instance, the children who can
adapt to the new academic environment can achieve high scores or
have good friends and relationships that can boost their confidence in
study. Therefore, without considering other possible causes and the
relation between their assumptions and conclusion, this argument is
not persuasive. (TRUONG NGUYEN VU HOAI)
Activity: Analyze the argument
Teacher: You can’t skip Quiz 3. It is indicated in the syllabus that students
Missing minor premise: You want to be qualified for the final exam.
The teacher cites a requirement in the syllabus that students take at least three
quizzes to be qualified for the final exam. She points out that all her students wants
to be qualified for the final exam and concludes that they cannot skip Quiz 3.
However, the requirement or definition of “at least three quizzes” in the syllabus
may not be sufficiently or apparently met by her students because the teacher
does not provide any information whether or not these students have taken Quiz 1
and/or Quiz 2. Without meeting this critical requirement, even if her students take
Quiz 3, their “want to be qualified for the final exam” is just a wishful thinking.
GROUP PARTICIPATION SCORE IMPROVEMENT
Read the following debate conversation.
https://www.goodshepherdshorehambeach.org.uk/just-for-fun/a-famous-debate/