Test for consistency and completeness.
In looking for consistency, you should be concerned that all the parts of the argument work together and that they are sufficient to convince readers to accept the thesis or at least take it seriously. To test for consistency and completeness, ask: Are any of the reasons and support contradictory? Do they provide sufficient grounds for accepting the thesis? Does the writer fail to acknowledge, concede, or refute any opposing arguments or important objections?
For more on responding to opposing views, see Chapter 19, pp. 617–20.
A thoughtful reader might regard as contradictory King’s characterizing himself first as a moderate and later as an extremist opposed to the forces of violence. (King attempts to reconcile this apparent contradiction by explicitly redefining extremism in par. 9.) Similarly, the fact that King fails to examine and refute every legal recourse available to his cause might allow a critical reader to question the sufficiency of his argument.
ANALYZE & WRITE
Evaluating the Logic of an Argument
Use the ABC test on the selection you have been working with (or another selection):
Test for appropriateness by checking that the reasons and support are clearly and directly related to the thesis.
Test for believability by deciding whether you can accept the reasons and support as likely to be true.
Test for consistency and completeness by deciding whether the argument has any contradictions and whether any important objections or opposing views have been ignored.Question