Chapter 10Issues, Analysis and Contentions

Asking Questions:
Knowing how to ask good questions enhances your comprehension by focusing on main ideas and making connections between them.

Three Types of Questions:Factual- usually have a correct answer. ex. Is the sun a star? Yes.

Interpretive- have more than one valid answer based on personal interpretation supported by evidence. ex. What did Bill Murray whisper at the end of 'Lost in Translation'? No one knows for sure, we can only speculate, interpret and discuss valid options.

Opinion- asks an individual what they personally think in regards to something. It is not right or wrong, it is simply an opinion. ex. Political and Religious ideas fall into this category.

Issues:
an issue is any question or disputed item on which the final outcome is dependent.

Characteristics of Issues: Issues are phrased as questions, but not all questions qualify as issues.

Issues can be introduced by either the pro or con side.

The number of issues a person can discover is unlimited.

Issues bring organization to the argumentative environment.

Issues should be as specific as possible.

Issue Discovery:
is the process of asking questions and gathering information in preparation for decision making. The goal of the research process is to produce new knowledge.

Three Research Types:Exploratory Research- structuring and identifying a new problem.

Constructive Research- developing a new solution to an existing problem.

Empirical Research- verifiable evidence on the feasibility of an existing solution to a problem.

Analysis:
a systematic approach to problem solving and decision making. There are four patterns of analysis.

Cost/ Benefit Analysis- an evaluation of the pros and cons before taking a course of action.

Priorities Analysis- is a survey based on prioritizing your resources in the form of trade offs and sacrifices.

Programs Analysis- Policies are adapted to achieve certain goals. As a result, current policies are evaluated against the goals that have or have not been reached.

Continuities Analysis- an evaluation of what has been done in the past and whether it has been successful.

Types of Issues:
once the issues have been discovered they can be classified.

Potential Issues- all of the possible questions that can be asked of the claim, which we learned earlier, is unlimited.

Admitted Issues- These questions are raised by one side and agreed to by the other side.

Real Issues- These are the questions that remain after narrowing the potential issues down.

Ultimate Issues- These, in and of themselves, are sufficient for the disposition of the claim.

Contentions: aka Arguments
what you need to know.

Contentions are the reason or main point that support your position on the claim.

Contentions mostly come from the ultimate issues that both the pro and con side reached earlier.

Contentions become the justifications for your position.

Contentions should flow from one to the next, advancing the overall case for your side.

Contentions should reflect a logical organization, asserting only one main conclusion at a time.

Contentions are the foundation, causing positions to become defined.

Contention organize and logically structure an advocates ideas as to why the audience should accept their point of view.

Steps to Creating an Effective Argument Strategy:

Do research, brainstorm and/or analyze to discover potential issues.

Narrow down potential issues and select the ultimate issues.

Turn the ultimate issues into statements.

Advance those statements to create the contentions for your position.

Make these contentions the center of the debate.

Argue them using evidence and reasoning.

Meaningful argumentative communication requires that argument be grounded upon substantive items or issues, the very foundation of rational argumentative encounters. By carefully examining what you already know through brainstorming and analysis, and then by conducting specific research, you will discover the major issues.

- James Sawyer

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