How to Build an Argument with Argument Alice (Ep 01)

Summary

Dr. David introduces 'Argument Alice' to guide viewers through the fundamentals of building a debate argument. She emphasizes the three key components: claims, reasoning, and evidence, using the acronym CRE. Alice illustrates the process with the example of arguing against children having mobile phones, detailing the harmful effects of blue light on eyes and supporting the argument with evidence from a Washington Post article and a study by the University of Toledo.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The importance of making an argument in a debate is emphasized as the most crucial element.
• 🏗️ An argument is constructed with three main components: claims, reasoning, and evidence, which can be remembered by the acronym CRE.
• 📝 A claim is a single, debatable assertion that states a point, distinct from a fact, which is not debatable.
• 🤔 Reasoning is the explanation for why a claim is valid, answering the question 'why' to support the claim.
• 📚 Evidence is used to prove the validity of a claim and convince the audience, including expert statements, research, and specific examples.
• 👀 The example provided in the script is that mobile phones may be harmful to kids' eyes, which serves as a claim in a debate.
• 💡 The reasoning for the claim about mobile phones includes the harmful effects of blue light, the inability of kids to stop looking at screens, and the difficulty for parents and teachers to control phone use.
• 🔍 Evidence from a Washington Post article and a study by the University of Toledo is used to support the claim about the negative effects of blue light on eyesight.
• 📈 The script illustrates how to structure a full argument within a speech, combining a clear claim, thorough reasoning, and solid evidence.
• 👥 The training encourages teamwork in building arguments for debates, highlighting the collaborative nature of debate preparation.
• 🍀 The script concludes with an encouragement to apply the learned skills in building arguments for future debates.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video script?

The main purpose of the video script is to train viewers on how to construct effective arguments, emphasizing the importance of claims, reasoning, and evidence.

Who is the character 'Argument Alice' in the script?

Argument Alice is a character introduced in the script to guide and train viewers on building expert arguments, illustrating the process with the concept of claims, reasoning, and evidence.

What are the three main building blocks of an argument according to the script?

The three main building blocks of an argument are claims, reasoning, and evidence, which can be remembered by the acronym CRE.

What is the difference between a claim and a fact as presented in the script?

A claim is an assertion or a debatable statement that requires proof, whereas a fact is a statement that is indisputable and not subject to debate.

How does the script define 'reasoning' in the context of an argument?

Reasoning in the context of an argument is the explanation for why the claims are valid, essentially answering the question 'why is this true?'

What role does 'evidence' play in an argument as described in the script?

Evidence in an argument is used to prove the claim's validity and to convince the audience of the claim's truth, often coming from expert statements, research, or specific examples.

Can you provide an example of a claim from the script related to mobile phones and kids?

An example of a claim from the script is that 'mobile phones will be harmful to kids' eyes,' which is a debatable statement that the script then supports with reasoning and evidence.

What are the reasons provided in the script to support the claim about mobile phones being harmful to kids' eyes?

The reasons provided include the harmful effects of blue light emitted by mobile phones, the inability of kids to stop looking at their phones, and the difficulty parents and teachers have in controlling mobile phone use.

What evidence is cited in the script to support the argument about the harmful effects of mobile phones on kids' eyes?

The script cites a study from the Washington Post and researchers at the University of Toledo, which found that exposure to blue light from smartphones can lead to the growth of poisonous molecules in the eyes, causing macular degeneration.

How does the script suggest concluding an argument in a debate?

The script suggests concluding an argument by summarizing the claim, explaining the reasons, and introducing the evidence to support the argument, as demonstrated in the example about mobile phones and kids' eyes.

What is the final advice given to viewers in the script regarding their debate preparation?

The final advice is for viewers to work with their teammates to build arguments for their debates, applying the knowledge they have gained about claims, reasoning, and evidence.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Argument Building

Dr. David introduces Argument Alice, a character designed to teach debate training. The session focuses on the essential skill of making an argument, which is compared to building a house with three main components: claims, reasoning, and evidence (CRE). A claim is a debatable assertion, distinct from a fact. Reasoning provides the explanation for the validity of the claim, and evidence supports the claim's validity and convinces the audience. Argument Alice illustrates this with the example of a debate topic arguing against children having mobile phones, focusing on the claim that mobile phones are harmful to children's eyes.

05:02

🔍 Developing and Supporting an Argument

This paragraph delves deeper into the argument against children having mobile phones, providing specific reasons why they are harmful to their eyes. The reasons include the harmful blue light emitted by screens, the inability of children to limit their screen time due to engaging content, and the difficulty parents and teachers face in controlling mobile phone usage. To support these reasons, evidence from a Washington Post article citing a study by the University of Toledo is presented, which links blue light exposure to macular degeneration. The paragraph concludes with a structured argument that incorporates the claim, reasons, and evidence, demonstrating how to present a compelling case in a debate.

Keywords

💡Argument

An argument is a set of statements, one of which is called the conclusion, and the remaining statements, known as premises, provide support for the conclusion. In the context of the video, an argument is a fundamental part of debate, consisting of a claim, reasoning, and evidence. The script uses the term to describe the process of constructing a persuasive statement in a debate, such as the argument against allowing kids to have mobile phones.

💡Claim

A claim is an assertion or statement that is open to debate and requires support to be accepted as valid. In the video, the claim is the starting point of an argument, such as the assertion that 'most students love to take math classes' or 'mobile phones are harmful to kids' eyes'. The script emphasizes the importance of making a clear claim as the first step in building an argument.

💡Reasoning

Reasoning refers to the process of drawing conclusions from known information or premises. In the video, reasoning is used to support the claim by providing explanations for why the claim is valid. For example, the script explains that the blue light from mobile phones can hurt kids' eyes, which is a reason supporting the claim that mobile phones are harmful to them.

💡Evidence

Evidence is the information or data that supports the claim and convinces the audience of its validity. In the video, evidence is the final component of an argument, such as the study from the Washington Post that smartphones may ruin eyesight, which is used to back up the claim about the harmful effects of mobile phones on kids' eyes.

💡Debate

A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic in which opposing arguments are put forward for the purpose of persuasion. The video is centered around debate training, teaching viewers how to construct arguments to be used in debates, such as the debate topic 'kids should not be allowed to have mobile phones'.

💡Argument Alice

Argument Alice is a character introduced in the video to personify the concept of argument construction. She serves as a guide, teaching the audience how to build expert arguments with claims, reasoning, and evidence. The character is used to make the learning process more engaging and memorable.

💡Foundation

In the video, the term 'foundation' is used metaphorically to describe the base or starting point of an argument, which is the claim. Just as a house needs a floor to be built upon, an argument needs a claim to establish its point. The script uses this analogy to illustrate the importance of having a solid foundation for building an argument.

💡Blue Light

Blue light is a specific type of light emitted by screens, such as those on mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. In the video, blue light is mentioned as a reason why mobile phones can be harmful to kids' eyes, as exposure to this light can promote the growth of poisonous molecules leading to macular degeneration. The script uses this concept to provide a scientific basis for the argument against mobile phones for kids.

💡Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision. In the video, it is mentioned as a potential consequence of exposure to blue light from mobile phones, serving as evidence for the harmful effects of such devices on kids' eyes.

💡Expert

An expert is someone who has extensive knowledge or skill in a particular area. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the goal of the training—to help viewers become 'expert argument builders'. The script encourages viewers to learn how to construct compelling and well-supported arguments in debates.

💡Research Reports

Research reports are documents that present the findings of a study or investigation. In the video, they are mentioned as a source of evidence that can be used to support arguments in a debate. The script suggests using research reports, along with articles, books, and other sources, to provide credible evidence for claims.

Highlights

Introduction of the debate training with the most crucial aspect: making an argument.

Argument Alice's role as a guide to train expert argument builders.

The three main building blocks of an argument: claims, reasoning, and evidence, remembered by the acronym CRE.

A claim is a debatable assertion, different from a fact.

The necessity of making a clear claim as the first step in an argument.

Reasoning as the explanation for why claims are valid.

The importance of asking 'why' to deliver reasons in a debate.

Evidence as the proof that validates and convinces the audience of the claim's truth.

Types of evidence: expert statements, research reports, articles, or specific examples.

The process of building an argument with claims, reasoning, and evidence demonstrated through a debate example.

Debate topic example: 'Kids should not be allowed to have mobile phones'.

Claim example: Mobile phones are harmful to kids' eyes due to blue light and bright images.

Reasoning behind the claim: the addictive nature of mobile games and videos, and the difficulty of parental control.

Evidence from a Washington Post article linking blue light exposure to macular degeneration.

The full argument structure in a speech format, combining claims, reasoning, and evidence.

The conclusion emphasizing the harmful effects of mobile phones on kids' eyes.

Encouragement for participants to build arguments for their debates using the learned structure.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello everybody dr david here we will

begin your debate training today with

the most crucial thing in a debate

making an argument to guide you through

the first step of your training i will

introduce argument alice alice's

superpower is making arguments she'll

show you how to do it good luck hello

everyone my name is argument alice and

my goal is to train you all how to be

expert argument builders

what is an argument exactly an argument

has three main building blocks building

an argument is like building a house

a house needs a floor or foundation

walls and a roof

we can't build a house without a roof

without a floor or walls

similarly we can't build an argument

without claims reasoning or evidence we

can remember this with the letters c r e

these are the pieces of our arguments

we begin with a claim

we support the claim with reasoning

and we prove our claim with evidence and

examples

first let's look at what a claim is

a claim is an assertion it is one single

sentence that states our point a claim

is different from a fact a fact is not

something we can debate about but a

claim is something debatable we have to

try to prove that it is true

let's look at the difference between a

fact and a claim

here is a fact

two plus two equals four we can't debate

this

here is a claim

most students love to take math classes

this claim is something we can debate

so the first step of any argument is

making a clear claim

second we need to follow our claim with

reasoning

reasons explain our point

reasons are simply the explanation for

why our claims are valid to deliver

reasons we just need to ask ourselves

why why is this true

how does this work sometimes our claims

seem obvious and it looks like we don't

need to explain in the debate however we

need to explain as much as we can

third and finally to complete our

argument we need evidence

evidence is what proves our claim is

valid and convinces the audience that it

is true

evidence can be statements from experts

research reports or articles or specific

examples we can find evidence from

articles books videos podcasts and other

sources of information we can also

provide examples from our everyday life

and experiences what is important is

that we have specific evidence and

examples to complete our arguments

so in summary

arguments have three main components

claim

state our point

reasoning explain our point

evidence prove our point

now let's look at an example of what

this looks like in a real debate

if our debate topic is

kids should not be allowed to have

mobile phones there are several possible

claims we can make to support the topic

one claim we could make is that mobile

phones will be harmful to kids eyes

if we want to provide reasons for the

claim that mobile phones will be harmful

to kids eyes we need to ask ourselves

why is this true let's come up with as

many reasons as we can why it is true

reason one

mobile phones have a light called a blue

light that's what allows us to see the

screen if kids look at this light too

much it will hurt their eyes mobile

phones have so many bright colors and

images that are too bright for kids eyes

reason 2

most kids cannot stop looking at their

mobile phones mobile phones have lots of

games and videos that kids like to watch

these games and videos are fun and

exciting and kids can't stop watching

them the bright colors and images are

very attractive to kids

reason 3 sometimes parents and teachers

can't control the mobile phone use

parents and teachers cannot watch their

kids at all times because they are busy

this means kids can look at their mobile

phones all day which is bad for their

eyes

so these reasons explain why phones are

harmful to kids and why it is difficult

for kids to stop looking at their phones

and why parents and teachers cannot

easily control the phones

now our argument is taking shape there

is only one more thing we need

evidence

how do we know that these arguments are

true is there any evidence or examples

we can provide that prove our claim is

true

we can find evidence and examples from

articles books podcasts and videos

i read an article from a newspaper

called the washington post from august

2018 and i found this evidence

a new study says that smartphones may

ruin your eyesight researchers at the

university of toledo in ohio have found

that exposure to blue light the glow

emitted from most smartphones tablets

and laptops promotes the growth of

poisonous molecules in your eyes leading

to macular degeneration

there are a lot of important words here

we would need to define overall however

this provides us good evidence for our

reasoning about blue light and its

impact on our eyes

so let's look at what the full argument

with claims reasoning and evidence would

look like in a speech

ladies and gentlemen my first argument

to support the topic that kids should

not be allowed to have mobile phones is

mobile phones are bad for kids eyes now

let me explain the reasons why this is

true first of all mobile phones have a

light called a blue light that's what

allows us to see the screen if kids look

at this light too much it will hurt

their eyes mobile phones have so many

bright colors and images that are too

bright for kids eyes

secondly most kids cannot stop looking

at their mobile phones mobile phones

have lots of games and videos that kids

like to watch these games and videos are

fun and exciting and kids can't stop

watching them the bright colors and

images are very attractive to kids

third sometimes parents and teachers

cannot control the mobile phone use

parents and teachers cannot watch their

kids at all times because they're busy

this means that kids can look at their

mobile phones all day which is bad for

their eyes now let me introduce some

evidence to support this claim a new

study says that smartphones may ruin

your eyesight researchers at the

university of toledo in ohio have found

that exposure to blue light the glow

emitted from most smartphones tablets

and laptops promotes the growth of

poisonous molecules in your eyes leading

to macular degeneration so ladies and

gentlemen we believe that kids should

not have mobile phones because they are

too harmful to kids eyes

now we have learned how to build an

argument we have learned what a claim

reasoning and evidence are we have seen

an example in a debate now you can work

with your teammates to build arguments

for your debates good luck

[Music]

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