Evaluating and Reviewing essay

Evaluating an Argument

Overview – Choose an opinion you currently hold – one that is not a central value in your life, but an opinion that you tacitly approve of and believe without much real consideration. Next, locate (using the library databases!) a credible, scholarly article that asserts an argument in favor of this opinion. Conduct an evaluation of this argument, and determine if the argument is weak, valid, or strong.

Process for Evaluating an Argument-

1. Identify Claim

What do you think?

2. Identify Reasons

Why do you think so?

3. Identify Evidence

How do you know you’re right?

4. Warrants

Why do you think your Reasons support your Claim?

5. Logical Fallacies

Is the argument built upon flawed thinking?

Once you have identified the parts of the argument, then go back and test each part for logic, credibility, sufficiency, relevance, and currency.

Use persuasive appeals to identify types of evidence.

Lead the reader to your evaluation (pronouncement of whether the argument is weak, valid, or strong) in the conclusion of the paper.

Organization-

Introduction: open with your opinion, introduce your source, and identify the claim, reasons, and evidence.

Body: Analyze the arguments reasons, evidence, warrants, and logical fallacies

Conclusion: Finish with your assessment of the argument’s strength…is it weak (why?), valid (why?) or strong (why?)

Include MLA style formatting and works cited page.