Unit 4 Lesson 5: Criteria Flashcards
1.
argument
a written discussion in which reasons and evidence are given to support an opinion
claim
an argument or assertion that something is true
counterclaim
an opposing argument or assertion
evidence
the facts or ideas that support an idea or analysis
There are numerous criteria for strong arguments, but two key ones involve ensuring that the evidence is logically linked to the claim:
- First, good writers make sure the evidence is relevant. If you are writing in praise of Italian cuisine, it’s probably not relevant to mention Spanish dining. Unless, of course, you think someone might argue in a counterclaim that Spanish food is superior.
- In addition to being relevant, good writers make sure their evidence is supportive. A garlic fan might make a claim about Italian food by saying “Just look at who eats the most garlic!” Unfortunately for the garlic fan, this isn’t true and is a misconception. China eats the most garlic per capita; Italy isn’t even in the top five. Therefore, saying Italian food is good because Italians eat the most garlic isn’t strong evidence because the facts don’t actually support it. However, a common misconception often makes a good counterclaim to include in an argument. A common misconception is an idea many people think is true but isn’t.
What should writers avoid doing when presenting evidence?
Writers should avoid giving evidence that is not relevant to or does not support the claim.
What criteria should writers use for judging the strength of a counterclaim?
They should use the same criteria for judging the strength of a claim: whether it is relevant and supportive.
A writer is making an argument that watching too much TV is detrimental to health. They found a statistic relating watching TV to being overweight. What criteria should they use to determine whether to include the statistic in their argument?
They should consider whether it is relevant and supportive to the claim, which it is.
A writer wants to support the claim that spicy snacks are preferable to salty snacks. What is an example of evidence they could use to support this claim?
The writer could present a survey showing people’s preferences for snacks. This would be relevant to the claim and, depending on the results, could support it.
If you wanted to convince a friend to read your favorite book series, what would you say and why?
I might think of themes that my friend likes that are also in the books and use those to convince him, since they would be relevant and supportive of the claim that my friend would like the book series.
concession
a writer’s admission that an idea or piece of evidence has limitations and could be stronger
limitations of evidence
weaknesses in evidence that might influence the outcome of research
A writer is making an advertisement for toothpaste. Which piece of evidence is most likely to have limitations?
a quote from the company’s CEO
a survey from the American Dental Association
a description of the ingredients of the toothpaste
an effectiveness study conducted by a third party
a quote from the company’s CEO
A writer is researching giraffes and finds one source claiming that they dig burrows. What should the writer do to determine if this should be used as evidence?
The writer should check to see who is making the claim and if they have any expertise in giraffes, or the writer can look for another source to verify that information.
Malik makes the claim that American football is more exciting than soccer because it’s a full contact sport. Joan makes a counterclaim that this also makes football more dangerous. What concession and counterargument might Malik make in response?
Injuries can happen in football, but the players wear padding and helmets to protect them.
