Unit 1.4 - Logic, Argument & Counterarguement

Students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the main parts of the argument (e.g. claim and evidence).
• Identify and describe steps to refute an opposing argument: introduce opposing argument, mark it as strong/weak/true/false, provide counter-claim and evidence.
• Construct reasonable arguments from collected sources and respond to potential counterarguments
• Identify logical fallacies in arguments and evaluate sample arguments for such fallacies

Warm up discussion

In groups, please discuss the following questions before coming together as class to summarize your group discussion.

1. What components make for a strong argument?
2. Conversely, what components makes for a weak argument?
3. Are some types of evidence stronger than others? If so, why? If not, why?

Argument design - Inductive pros and cons.

Make a copy of the ARGUMENT/COUNTERARGUMENT WORKSHEET and fill in the box of part one. Please find both the pros and cons to the statement provided.

Lecture on argument design and counterargument.

Open the ARGUMENT & COUNTERARGUMENT LECTURE PPT.  Follow along as the teacher lectures on argument characteristics, evidence types, counter argument techniques and provide a framework for future argumentative essays.

Argument Design - writing activity

Open the second part of the ARGUMENT/COUNTERARGUMENT WORKSHEET. In this section, your group will expand on either the pro or the con side of the argument and write a full paragraph summarizing the side your group supports and present a counterargument to the other side.

Argument Design - editing the writing activity

Open the third part of the ARGUMENT/COUNTERARGUMENT WORKSHEET. In this section, your group will edit their paragraph from section II to include various specialized vocabulary to help guide the reader thought your argument. Once completed, share your paragraph with the instructor,

Logical fallacies - info gap activity

Open the LOGICAL FALLACIES TBI WORKSHEET & LOGICAL FALLACIES PPT. Each question corresponds to a logical fallacy and your group must look through the LOGICAL FALLACIES PPT to identify the fallacy and then write the type of fallacy in provided section in each question of the LOGICAL FALLACIES TBI WORKSHEET.