Boxi Learn › Chinese › Stage 3 · Structure and Evidence
Map an argument: claim, reasons, evidence
CN-4 Reading needs evidenceX-2 Evidence outweighs opinionX-4 Explain it to someone
What many people think
Stating an opinion firmly is already an argument.
The idea
An argument is a claim held up by reasons, and each reason needs evidence; a reason with nothing under it does not hold the claim up.
Explain it
Pick a short opinion piece or advert. Find its claim, list its reasons, and say which reason has no evidence under it.
Try at home
Have a friendly debate at dinner (e.g. “we should get a dog”). Write the claim on one sticky note, each reason on another and each piece of evidence on a third colour. Which reasons end up with nothing stuck under them?