Advocacy and Opposition

1.    What is argumentation?

The nature of argumentation

The nature of the audience

The historical development of argumentation

Ethical standards for argumentation

 

2.    Where do I begin in argumentation?

Fields of argumentation

Presumption

Burden of proof

The prima facie case

 

3.    What am I going to argue about?

The nature of propositions

The classification of propositions

Phrasing the proposition

Defining key terms

 

4.    How do I analyze propositions?

Locating the immediate cause

Investigating history

Defining key terms and creating the primary inference

Determining the issues

 

5.    How is a unit of argument created?

The Toulmin model of argument

 

6.    How do I prove my argument?

The discovery of evidence

Types and tests of evidence

Recording evidence

 

7.    How do I reason with my audience?

Argument from cause

Argument from sign

Argument from generalization

Argument from parallel case

Argument from analogy

Argument from authority

Argument from dilemma

 

8.    What should I avoid?

Fallacies of reasoning

Fallacies of appeal

Fallacies of language

 

9.    How are factual propositions argued?

Advocating propositions of fact

Opposing propositions of fact

 

10.  How are value propositions argued?

The nature of values

Advocating propositions of value

Opposing propositions of value

 

11.  How are policy propositions argued?

Advocating propositions of policy

Opposing propositions of policy

 

Appendix A: What are the rules of the game?

Debate formats

Speaker responsibilities

Flow sheeting

 

Glossary

 

Index