Meeting 13: How to Construct Argument?
What is argument?
Relating to the necessity in scientific writing, it is important to understand what
argument is. At a glance, there are some relevant definitions of argument which can be
a mean of itself in the background of the study. According to basic definition given by
Covey (1985), argument is an assertion with its complete supports which aim is to
convince argument recipient through logical construction. In the twentieth century, the
definition of an argument is shifted into a reason beyond particular phenomenon which
represents the stance, the principle and also the validity (Kirszner & Mandell, 2009).
Kriszner and Mandell’s definition is relevant to Oslon (2003) that argument is a unity of
elements which is usually used to explain, analyze, interpret, speculate, evaluate,
persuade or reflect. According to Jogja Debating Forum (2012), based on Handbook of
Parliamentary Debating, argument is a unity of assertion, reason, evidence and link
back. However, the various definition can be simplified that argument is a unit of a
claim supported by evidence and logic reason (Warnick & Inch, 1994; Harrell, 2004;
Cottrell, 2005; Hunter & Besnard, 2008). Moreover, argument includes the attempt to
influence other parties, other meaning is to convince or persuade by inferring (Warnick
& Inch, 1994).
According to Kirszner and Mandell (2009), there are three purposes of writing
argument. First, argument is to attract people to give special attention and belief toward
what ideas have been presented. Attraction is the simplest way to represent of swaying.
Second, argument is to defense what ideas that need to be stood. In other words, it is
the second way of persuasion by defending what ideas have been explained. The last is,
argument is used to offense particular phenomenon which needs to be criticized or
responded. In order to achieve the aim, the argument should be explain in logical order.
If the logic is not considered as important, the aim will not be delivered well that may
trigger more threats. Therefore, argument should be delivered in such a good manner.
To fulfill some requirements of good argument, there are 3 basic traits which are claim,
reason and evidence, and attempt to influence (Warnick and Inch, 1994). First, there
should be a claim which represents what will be conveyed, explained, or presented. A
claim is used to attract others to have perspectives either to agree or to disagree. A
claim can lead to the further convocation of unifying ideas, but it tends to be rare.
Second, evidence and reason are meant to give special role in strengthening a claim.
Both evidence and reason will portray logic acceptance for argument recipient. The last
is an attempt of influence which is needed to lead particular party to move in the
opposite, or particular party to move to the better choice. The attempt includes term of
inference to the last chance to be provocative, persuasive and influential. By paying
attention to the 3 traits of argument in depth, a writer can produce a good argument to
convey certain ideas.
What are the elements of argument?
Claim Representing what you want to convey, to state or to argue
Reason Logical supports to your claim
Evidence Factual supports to your claim
Attempt to In other names, it is conclusion which links back to your claim
Influence
Example 1:
Claim BRICS waste management standard stimulates all private
companies to be environmentally friendly.
Reason 1. It compels the companies to do re-recycle the waste before it
will be thrown away to river.
2. It punishes those who cannot obey the standard by stopping
their operations.
Evidence During 2 months after the legalization, the numbers of danger
waste can be minimized up to 30% compared to the previous
numbers of dangerous chemical components in wastes.
Attempt to Thus, by this implementation, all private companies raise their
Influence awareness to being nature-friendly.
