Communication Strategies 2 Argumentation basics: Using evidence

modern building

Build a strong argument

Image Credit
Jakob Montrasio via flickr

The previous lesson was about beginning an argument well. This lesson is about using evidence to create the body of your argument.

Introduction

Answer these questions:  

  1. What is an argument?
  2. What are the parts of an argument?

Argument structure

1. What is an argument?

An argument is a reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory.

  • It can be simple: “Hey, I heard that pizza place is good. Let’s go have some pizza!”
  • It can also be very complex. “I firmly believe that the economy is going to be in bad shape in the future because..."

2. Parts of an argument:

An argument consists of:

  1. a claim; and
  2. evidence and reasoning to support that claim.

Providing clear evidence is a great skill to use everywhere, from business meetings and presentations to casual conversations.

Take some time and make sure your student is confident with the information in this lesson before moving on. Please tell your student that they can spend two or three sessions on this lesson, depending on the amount of practice desired.

Warm Up

Is this a strong answer? Why or why not?

I think Portland, Oregon is the best city in the world. The food is delicious, it’s not too big, it's not too expensive to rent or own a house, and there's lots of entertainment. That's why Portland is the best city!

After discussing the above answer, try giving an answer to the same question: 

In your opinion, which city is the best city in the world?

This is not a strong answer. 

Why? There is no evidence. There are basically just four claims with nothing concrete to back them up: 

  1. The food is delicious. 
  2. It's not too big.
  3. It's not too expensive.
  4. There's lots of entertainment.

Now, put the question back to the student: "Can you tell me which city you think is the best city in the world?"

Language

A. First, what’s the difference between a claim and evidence?

Your teacher will say a sentence, and you tell them if it is a claim or evidence. 

B. Now that the difference between claims and evidence is clear, let's discuss evidence more deeply.

There are at least 5 different types of evidence. Can you think of them?

A. What's the difference between a claim and evidence?

→ A claim is an opinion, and evidence is measurably or factually true. 

Play: Claim or evidence? 

  • Tell the student, "I'll say something, and you tell me if it's a claim or if it's evidence." 
  • Portland's food is delicious. (claim)
  • There are hundreds of food carts all across Portland. (evidence)
  • Portland is not too big. (claim)
  • Rent in Portland is almost 50% less than in New York City. (evidence) 
  • The real estate company Movoto ranked Portland #1 on its Best U.S. Cities for Movie Lovers list. (evidence)

B. Evidence can be:

  1. anecdote;
  2. analogy/comparison;
  3. example;
  4. expert or eyewitness testimony; or
  5. facts, statistics or data.

Take your time and try each one with your student. Go through each point and ask why the city they chose is the best city in the world. 

  1. An anecdote is a very short story. It can be about you, or it can just be a story you know. Anecdotes are a common way to start, because they have emotional impact. Politicians often start with an anecdote.
    • E.g.: "I was talking with a fellow named Ted. He lives in Detroit, and he said he lost his job when the auto plant shut down. He told me the economy has failed him!"
  2. An analogy/comparison compares or contrasts two points.
    • Ask: What is another city you know, and why is [the city they chose] better?
    • E.g.: “London is similar to New York because both are global business centers, but London has a better work-life balance.”
  3. Examples are the most common types of evidence. They should be as specific as possible. 
    • Weak: "The food in Spain is delicious; for example, paella."
    • Strong: "The food in Spain is delicious; for example, paella. It originated in Valencia and is sometimes considered the national dish of Spain. Every year there is a paella festival with an international competition for the best paella dish. Chefs from as far away as Mexico and Japan compete."
  4. Testimony is what other people have officially said. We should only use trustworthy people, either eyewitnesses or experts.
    • E.g.: "Tokyo has so many interesting neighborhoods. I was reading about Jimbocho on the BBC website. It's a district in Tokyo with dozens of bookstores. They said it was one of the best places in the world for used book shopping." 
  5. Facts, statistics or data are good if you have them.
    • E.g.: "Kenya is very involved in wildlife conservation. It has 23 national parks, the most of any country in Africa."

(Reasoning is how you connect the evidence to the claim. We’ll focus on that next time.)

Practice

Now try answering a question using effective evidence. Use at least two types of evidence in your answer.