Argument Structure

Question 1

Define a premise

Answer 1

A premise is a piece of evidence (fact or claim) that supports the authors conclusion.

Question 2

Define a conclusion

Answer 2

A (final) conclusion is the authors main claim.

When we have more than one conclusion, we can use the Therefore Test to find the final conclusion.
Either “A is true, THEREFORE B is true” or “B is true, THEREFORE A is true.”

Question 3

Define an intermediate conclusion

Answer 3

An intermediate conclusion is both a conclusion and a premise; it supports the final conclusion.

When we have more than one conclusion, we can use the Therefore Test to find the final conclusion.
Either “A is true, THEREFORE B is true” or “B is true, THEREFORE A is true.”

Question 4

Define background information

Answer 4

Background information helps to set the context for an argument.

Question 5

Define a counterpoint or counterpremise

Answer 5

A counterpoint or counterpremise goes against the authors conclusion.

Question 6

Highlights of a Premise

Answer 6

Part of the core of the argument; present in every argument

Supports the authors conclusion

Can be a fact or an opinion; can be a description, historical information, statistical or numerical data, or a comparison of things

Often signaled by words or phrases such as because of since, due to, and as a result of

Question 7

Highlights of a Conclusion

Answer 7

Part of the core of an argument; present in most arguments

Represents the authors main opinion or claim; can be in the form of a prediction, a judgment of quality or merit, or a statement of causality

Is supported by at least one premise

Often signaled by words such as therefore, thus, so, and consequently (though note that harder arguments might use such a word elsewhere in the argument in an attempt to confuse us)

Question 8

Highlights of Background

Answer 8

Not part of the core; often present, but not always

Provides context to help understand the core

Almost always fact-based; can be in almost any form: historical information, numerical or other data, descriptions of plans or ideas, definitions of words or concepts, and so on

Question 9

Highlights of a Counterpoint

Answer 9

Not part of the core; only present occasionally

Opposes or goes against the authors conclusion in some way

Introduces multiple opportunities for traps: believing that the conclusion is the opposite of what it is, mistakenly labeling a counterpoint the premise (and vice versa), and so on

Often signaled by transition words such as however, yet, and but\ typically, the transition
word will be found somewhere between the counterpremise and the conclusion (though the two sentences may not be right next to each other)