Evaluating Arguments guide
Evaluating Arguments asks whether an argument is strong or weak in relation to a question. A strong argument is directly relevant and important to the conclusion, regardless of which side it supports — you judge relevance and weight, not whether you agree.
The method
- Ask whether the argument bears directly on the question.
- Ask whether it is important to the conclusion, not just tangentially related.
- Judge strength independently of whether you agree with the side it takes.
- A strong argument is both relevant and material; a weak one fails on either.
Common mistakes
- Rating an argument strong because you agree with it.
- Dismissing an inconvenient but relevant and important argument.
- Treating mere relevance as strength without weighing importance.
- Letting the emotional appeal of a side decide the rating.
Frequently asked questions
What makes an argument 'strong' here?
It must be directly relevant to the question and important to the conclusion. Agreement is irrelevant — a strong argument can support the side you dislike.