Chapter 14: Argumentation

We often argue with friends, family, or co-workers in our daily life. For example, “Is a vegetarian diet really good for your health?”, or “Do second marriages have a higher divorce rate than first-marriages?” I cannot stake my claim with just my opinion.  A small argument could turn into a fight if I do not have logical evidence.  An argument is not a fight.  An argument is making a point about a subject and supporting it with evidence. What I learned from this chapter is how argumentation and persuasion are different, and I also learned that an argument can be supported with 3 types of evidence such as logic, ethics, and emotions. I am perplexed that I have to recognize how I can avoid many logical fallacies while writing an argumentation essay. I think the most important point in this chapter is choosing a debatable topic, and supporting the topic with evidence, which should be relevant, representative, typical, and sufficient.

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