Critical Thinking and Argumentative Writing

  1. In this style of writing you articulate and support (argue) a position or point of view.
  2. Unlike purely informative writing, you take a stand and evaluate something.
  3. Your opinions, values, and attitudes play an important role in this process.
  4. In this style of writing you advance your point of view or suggest a solution to a problem.
  5. This style of writing is driven by making points and so it is called "point-driven" writing.
  6. The process of writing:
  1. Identify an issue i.e. a subject where there are potentially two or more clearly differing opinions.
  2. Investigate the issue. Identify an issue where there is more information available to argue with than just pure speculation i.e. there are observations or evidence you can draw upon.
  3. Identify an issue that is more than a matter of pure taste or preference e.g. "Orange juice tastes better than cranberry juice." In the case of reviews of music, films, or food, evaluative statements can be made based on comparisons and analyses and a set of criteria that is explicitly referred to by the critic.
  4. Identify alternative views. List the continuum of different opinions that could exist on the subject. Where is your point of view on the continuum.
  5. Articulate a stance. Articulate in one clear sentence the proposition you will be arguing for. This is your thesis statement or main idea. Offer a specific opinion and then argue for it.
  6. Develop your supporting evidence which might include examples from your experience or other people's experience, information and quotations from written sources and recognized authorities, data and statistics, comparisons to similar situations and evaluation of information in its historical setting.
  7. Make a list of counterarguments, recognize them, and respond to them.
  8. Some argument types:

What are the good and bad consequences?

What similar relevant situations, problems, or actions have existed?

What do the recognized experts, if any, think?

What examples and statistics exist?

What values or beliefs are contradicted or reinforced?

What positive or negative emotional responses will result?

Some fallacies in argument:

faulty cause and effect,

false analogies (two things are actually not "alike."

misleading statistics

appeals to bias

attacking the person not their argument

arguing that everyone already agrees with the idea so join the "bandwagon"

hasty generalization (presenting assumptions as facts

oversimplifying a complex issue as "either/or"

circular reasoning.

Writing a Letter to the Editor or a Critical Review

    1. First Describe: One common format of review or letter to the editor clearly and objectively summarizes the problem or event during the first 1/3 of the piece.
    2. Then Analyze and Evaluate: In the final 2/3 of the piece authors clearly state a proposition and support it. They analyze (i.e. break the matter down into its component parts) and evaluate the problem or event based upon comparisons with a set of criteria that they expressly articulate e.g. a review in Car and Driver magazine might note that the new Ford Bronco has more horsepower, turning responsiveness, and better miles per gallon than last year's model, but it is more expensive and the tire treads come off causing more rollover accidents. Another common written format starts with the proposition and describes and evaluates various points as it goes along.
    3. Movie reviews might expressly evaluate such things as the filming, acting, costuming, directing, special effects, script, plot, casting, length, character development, degree of audience engagement with the characters, etc.
    4. Concert reviews might expressly notice the components that go into making a good or bad concert e.g. the sound quality of the performance, the atmosphere of the venue, the energy of the performers, the visual interest of props, clothing, or sets, the use of lighting and special effects, the responsiveness of the crowd, the quality of the sound mixing, the pace, variety, and choice of music, a comparison with past performances and other performers, etc.
    5. Restaurant reviews similarly review the components of a good or bad dining experience e.g. the service, food, atmosphere, price, parking, etc., then compare it to other available experiences, and make a recommendation to the reader.
    6. Reviewers and writers of Letters to the Editor usually have some kind of experience in the area that they are reviewing that is sufficient to evaluate the component parts that make up the event.