Defining Argument

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World War I propaganda poster (1917)
Wake Up, America! (1917) James Montgomery Flagg. Published by the Hegeman Print, New York/Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-3802].

Now for the obvious question: exactly what is an argument? Perhaps the best way to begin is by explaining what argument is not. An argument (at least an academic argument) is not a quarrel or an angry exchange. The object of argument is not to attack someone who disagrees with you or to beat an opponent into submission. For this reason, the shouting matches that you routinely see on television or hear on talk radio are not really arguments. Argument is also not spin—the positive or biased slant that politicians routinely put on facts—or propaganda—information (or misinformation) that is spread to support a particular viewpoint. Finally, argument is not just a contradiction or denial of someone else’s position. Even if you establish that an opponent’s position is wrong or misguided, you still have to establish that your own position has merit by presenting evidence to support it.

There is a basic difference between formal arguments—those that you develop in academic discussion and writing—and informal arguments—those that occur in daily life, where people often get into arguments about politics, sports, social issues, and personal relationships. These everyday disputes are often just verbal fights in which one person tries to outshout another. Although they sometimes include facts, they tend to rely primarily on emotion and unsupported opinions. Moreover, such everyday arguments do not have the formal structure of academic arguments: they do not establish a logical link between a particular viewpoint and reliable supporting evidence. There is also no real effort to address opposing arguments. In general, these arguments tend to be disorganized, emotional disputes that have more to do with criticizing an opponent than with advancing and supporting a position on an issue. Although such informal arguments can serve as starting points for helping you think about issues, they do not have the structure or the intellectual rigor of formal arguments.

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So exactly what is an argument—or, more precisely, what is an academic argument? An academic argument is a type of formal argument that takes a stand, presents evidence, includes documentation, and uses logic to convince an audience to accept (or at least consider) the writer’s position. Of course, academic arguments can get heated, but at their core they are civil exchanges. Writers of academic arguments strive to be fair and to show respect for others—especially for those who present opposing arguments.

Keep in mind that arguments take positions with which reasonable people may disagree. For this reason, an argument never actually proves anything. (If it did, there would be no argument.) The best that an argument can do is to convince other people to accept (or at least acknowledge) the validity of its position.

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An angry exchange is not an academic argument.
Flying Colours Ltd./Getty Images

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WHAT KINDS OF STATEMENTS ARE NOT DEBATABLE?

To be suitable for argument, a statement must be debatable: in other words, there must be conflicting opinions or conflicting facts that call the validity of the statement into question. For this reason, the following types of statements are generally not suitable for argument:

  • Statements of fact: A statement of fact can be verified, so it is not debatable. For example, there is no point in arguing that your school makes instructors’ lectures available as podcasts. This is a question of fact that can easily be checked. You can, however, argue that making instructors’ lectures available as podcasts would (or would not) enhance education at your school. This is a debatable statement that can be supported by facts and examples.

  • Statements of personal preference or taste: Expressions of personal preference or taste are not suitable for argument. For example, if you say that you don’t like the taste of a particular soft drink, no one can legitimately argue that you are wrong. This statement is beyond dispute because it is a matter of personal taste. You could, however, argue that soft drinks should not be sold in school cafeterias because they contribute to obesity. To support this position, you would supply evidence—facts, statistics, and expert opinion.

NOTE

Although personal expressions of religious belief are difficult to debate, the interpretation of religious doctrine is a suitable subject for argument—and so are the political, social, philosophical, and theological effects of religion on society.

It is a mistake to think that all arguments have just two sides—one right side and one wrong side. In fact, many arguments that you encounter in college focus on issues that are quite complex. For example, if you were considering the question of whether the United States should ban torture, you could certainly answer this question with a yes or a no, but this would be an oversimplification. To examine the issue thoroughly, you would have to consider it from a number of angles:

If you were going to write an argument about this issue, you would have to take a position that adequately conveyed its complex nature—for example, “Although torture may be cruel and even inhuman, it is sometimes necessary.” To do otherwise might be to commit the either/or fallacy—to offer only two choices when there are actually many others.