Example Argument Map

Arguments are an excellent tool for critical thinking. In arguments, we first research facts and reasons on all sides of an issue, then evaluate the information we've gathered to determine what is the best position on the issue. Finally, we organize our thinking systematically to persuade others.

Argument maps provide a way to organize and visualize all of the complex pieces of a good argument. Here is an example of an argument map I made about an issue that's often a popular essay topic for students.

This week, you'll begin to use argument maps to learn how to put together your arguments. Above is a brief example of an argument map I made (using a different program, so it looks slightly different from yours), to give you an example of what a good map would look like. Click on the map to get a full-sized version that you can examine.

Forum Assignment: Argument Maps

Work on your argument map for a few hours. After you've worked for some time, think about what major question or questions you're running into. It can be a question about your argument itself (you suddenly realized you didn't understand part of your argument until you tried to put it down systematically); how the program works; how to arrange claims (how the claims fit together to form an argument); whatever questions you've run into, and you can't figure out for yourself after puzzling over it for a while. Put your questions below in comments.

Term Paper 2: Argument Map

Here's a link to the argument map site: Cartargrapher

Once you've logged in to Google, just go to "my maps" in the upper left corner to see a list of the different maps you've worked on.

Play around with it, to give yourself a sense of which arguments are best supported!

Homework for Thursday

To review, here's your homework for Thursday:

Read Case 6 in Critical Thinking: A Campus Life Casebook

Write down all the reasoning that supports the conclusion "A reasonable person would understand that the cartoon was intended ironically, and was meant to question and mock stereotypes."

Write down all the reasoning that supports the conclusion "A reasonable person would understand the cartoon as supporting stereotypes."

Type your answers.

Grade Update

Here's a link to a current grade update. Philosophy 130 Fall 10

Look up your grades by student ID number.

Grades are listed in 4 sets of three pages each. The first set shows a general overview of the grades for the course. The column on the very furthest right shows your current percentage grade in the course, as a decimal. .895 or higher is an A; .795-.894 is a B, etc. The second-to last column on the right shows the total number of points you've earned so far.

The next set of three pages shows current forum grades, and the set after that shows current homework grades. You don't yet have any grades for term papers.

Except for the final column on the main, "Grades" page, all of the numbers listed are points, not percentage grades. The highest points you could get for each forum post is 75; the highest for each homework is 50.