A-level Critical Thinking/Unit II

• Argument = Reason + Conclusion
• Argument – The presentation of one or more reasons to support a conclusion.
• Reason – A claim that supports a conclusion.
• Conclusion – A claim that is supported by one or more reasons.
• Argument indicator - A word which links a reason and a conclusion.

Arguments are often presented without using reason indicators. Reasons are different to evidence – evidence supports a reason.

The reasons and conclusions separated by an inference bar Conclusions can be identified by conclusion indicators (e.g. Therefore).

Some arguments have an intermediate conclusion – a conclusion before the main conclusion is stated.