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.
