Argumentation is a set of statements, premises or assumptions that defend a point of view and that have as objective convince the reader about something.
Arguing is not necessarily attacking or criticizing someone. Arguments can also be used to support other people's views.
What is an argumentative text?
An argumentative text is one that presents a thesis, that is, an opinion about something, along with a set of fundamentals used to support this point of view.
If the text does not have a point of view or a foundation, it cannot be considered argumentative, since these two points are crucial for a text to be coherent in defense or criticism of any theme.
How to build a good argumentative text?
An argumentative text needs to be grounded in addition to defending a point of view. However, the construction of a good argumentative text goes far beyond that.
There are essential points that when present in a dissertation, for example, can make all the difference for those who read or analyze it. Below we mention two main points that help in this production:
- present opposite opinion
This point is one of the most important for the construction of an argumentative text. The concessive thinking is the acknowledgment, by the person who is writing the text, that there is another point of view on the subject, contrary to the one defended by himself.
Example:
In an argumentative text with opinions against the reduction of the highest criminal age, it is possible to describe and substantiate the defended opinion and at the same time recognize that there is an opinion contrary to the one that is in the text. In this case, support for reduction, for example.
Thus, the author who is against the reduction of the highest criminal age can explain in his text that there are arguments in favor of reducing the highest criminal age.
This helps to identify why the author of the text defends that opinion, knowing that he knows the topic holistically, that is, as a whole.
In the analysis of a dissertation, for example, this point is important to present to those who read or analyze, that the foundations were structured recognizing the opposite opinion, which makes the argument more strong.
- Anticipate possible objections to the presented argument
Any theme grants two possibilities of argument: against or for. Thus, a strong and well-founded argument in a text is one that presents its foundation and defends itself in advance against possible objections to its point of view.
Example:
Someone who defends veganism can produce a good argumentative text if they are able to defend themselves against possible objections to the topic.
In this case, the objections could be the lack of nutrients in a diet, economic problems generated by the fall in agricultural production, among others.
Counter-arguing these possible questions helps to build a stronger and more convincing text.
The types of arguments in a text
There are several ways to argue in a text. Below we explain the three main types of arguments used:
- argument from authority: it is when the author of the text uses some phrase, quote or idea from another person or research institution, which helps to support and substantiate the defended opinion;
- Argument of proof: is the type of argument that uses data, statistics and news that help to prove the veracity of the opinion defended in the text;
- argument by logical reasoning: is when the author of the text finds a logical point, which makes it obvious and clear why he defends that point of view.
See also the meaning of:
- arguments;
- Dissertation;
- Coherence;
- Informative text;
- Characteristics of a narrative text.
