The Practice of Argumentation

Effective Reasoning in Communication

David Zarefsky

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781107034716
• eBook ISBN: 9781108763011
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Logic in Philosophy

This book uses different perspectives on argumentation to show how we create arguments, test them, attack and defend them, and deploy them effectively to justify beliefs and influence others. David Zarefsky uses a range of contemporary examples to show how arguments work and how they can be put together, beginning with simple individual arguments, and proceeding to the construction and analysis of complex cases incorporating different structures. Special attention is given to evaluating evidence and reasoning, the building blocks of argumentation. Zarefsky provides clear guidelines and tests for different kinds of arguments, as well as exercises that show student readers how to apply theories to arguments in everyday and public life. His comprehensive and integrated approach toward argumentation theory and practice will help readers to become more adept at critically examining everyday arguments as well as constructing arguments that will convince others.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright information
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1 The Argumentative Perspective
• Chapter 2 What Arguments Look Like
• Chapter 3 The Emergence of Controversy
• Chapter 4 Evidence in Argumentation
• Chapter 5 Argument Schemes
• Chapter 6 Fallacies
• Chapter 7 Case Construction
• Chapter 8 Attack and Defense
• Chapter 9 Language, Style, and Presentation
• Chapter 10 Where and Why We Argue
• Appendix Learning Argumentation through Debate
• Bibliography
• Index