Evaluating Arguments in Non-Fiction

Passage: 'Schools should ban mobile phones entirely. Research from the London School of Economics found that students at schools with phone bans scored significantly higher on standardised tests. Furthermore, phones distract students from learning and contribute to cyberbullying. The evidence is clear: removing phones improves outcomes for all students.' What is the writer's main CLAIM?

What EVIDENCE is offered? Is it specific enough to verify?

Identify one weakness in the reasoning — a logical leap, an unproven assumption, or a missing perspective.

Rate the argument's convincingness from 1–5 and explain your rating.

Loaded word/phrase 1: ________________ Emotion triggered: ______________

Loaded word/phrase 2: ________________ Emotion triggered: ______________

Loaded word/phrase 3: ________________ Emotion triggered: ______________

Write your counter-argument paragraph here:

Source and topic: ______________________________________________ Q1 — What is the main CLAIM? (State it in your own words)

Q2 — What EVIDENCE is offered? Is it specific, verifiable, and relevant?

Q3 — Does the evidence actually PROVE the claim? Is the reasoning sound?

Convincingness rating (1–5) and justification:

Describe the claim being made: ___________________________________

What evidence (if any) is offered? Is it credible?

Is there a logical gap? Identify any fallacy or weakness in the reasoning:

Why might social media be a particularly risky place for weak arguments to spread?

Argument: 'Politicians are all the same — they only care about themselves. So there's no point voting.' Fallacy type and explanation:

Argument: 'This vaccine must be dangerous — the government is telling everyone to take it.' Fallacy type and explanation:

Argument: 'Nine out of ten dentists recommend this toothpaste, so it must be best for your teeth.' Fallacy type and explanation (consider: what questions should we ask about this statistic?):

Argument: 'We need to make schools start later because teenagers need more sleep.' Hidden assumption: _____________________________________________ (Hint: what does the argument assume is in schools' power, and what does it assume about sleep and school start times?)

Argument: 'If people just worked harder, they would not be in poverty.' Hidden assumption: _____________________________________________

Argument: 'Banning junk food advertising to children will reduce childhood obesity. Countries that have introduced such bans have seen obesity rates fall.' What is missing from this argument? What other factors should be considered?

Argument: 'Our new teaching approach has improved exam results by 15%. This proves it is superior to the old approach.' What is missing? What questions should we ask before accepting this conclusion?

Topic: ___________________________________________ Argument 1 — source: _____ Claim: _____ Evidence quality: _____ Reasoning: _____

Argument 2 — source: _____ Claim: _____ Evidence quality: _____ Reasoning: _____

Which argument is stronger, and why? Be specific:

Slippery slope fallacy — simple explanation: _______________________ Real-world example: ____________________________________________

Ad hominem fallacy — simple explanation: _______________________ Real-world example: ____________________________________________

False dichotomy — simple explanation: _________________________ Real-world example: ____________________________________________

Article title and source: _______________________________________ Section 1 — Strengths of the argument:

Section 2 — Weaknesses of the argument:

Section 3 — Overall verdict (rating 1–5) and justification:

Your argument: Claim: ___________________________________________________________ Evidence: ________________________________________________________ Reasoning: ______________________________________________________

Self-evaluation — Strength of your argument:

Self-evaluation — Weakness or limitation of your argument:

How would you improve it?

Position you personally disagree with: _____________________________ Your steelman argument for this position (strongest possible case):

What did constructing this argument reveal about the complexity of the issue?

Product and advertisement description: ____________________________ Claim (what the advertisement is trying to convince you of): _____________

Evidence offered (if any): _______________________________________

Persuasive techniques or fallacies used: ____________________________

If this advertisement were held to the same standards as a formal argument, would it be convincing? Why or why not?

Write your evaluative essay here:

Article title, author, and source: _____________________________ Extended critical analysis:

Topic: _________________________________________________________ For: ____________________________________________________________

Against: _______________________________________________________

Self-evaluation: which paragraph is more convincing? Why?

Source and statement: _________________________________________ Full analysis:

My argument evaluation framework — the questions I will ask of any argument:

Which of these questions do you find most useful? Why?

Advertisement described (product, medium, main claim):

What evidence or proof does it offer?

Emotional appeals identified:

Any logical fallacies present? If so, name them:

Overall: is this an honest, credible argument? Why or why not?

My critical response:

My topic and my personal view:

The strongest possible opposing argument (steelman version):

Context (what was spoken, who by):

Main claim:

Evidence offered:

Fallacies, emotional appeals, or weaknesses noticed:

My opinion piece with explicit claim, evidence, reasoning, and no fallacies:

My five critical evaluation questions (with explanations):

My reflection on how argument evaluation has changed how I engage with the world:

My claim:

Three pieces of specific evidence:

My reasoning — how the evidence supports the claim:

Counter-argument I acknowledge:

Topic chosen:

Argument A (for one position) — with evaluation:

Argument B (for the opposing position) — with evaluation:

Which argument is stronger and why:

Post described (topic, platform, what it claims):

Claim identified:

Evidence provided (or lack of evidence):

Any logical fallacies or emotional manipulation:

Overall evaluation — credible argument or not? Why?

Context (where and when you heard it):

The argument as it was made:

The fallacy and why it makes the argument weaker:

Debate context and topic:

Side A — main argument and evidence quality:

Side B — main argument and evidence quality:

Which was more convincing and why:

My Critical Thinker's Manifesto:

What I want to change and who I am addressing:

My argument (claim, evidence, reasoning, call to action):

My synthesis paragraph on what makes an argument worth taking seriously:

The article or statement I am responding to:

My letter to the editor:

Poster title and key questions or reminders (the text of the poster):

Description of the visual element (what image or design would accompany the text?):

Day-by-day argument log (argument, context, evidence quality rating 1-3):

Patterns noticed — which contexts produced the strongest/weakest arguments?

My self-assessment of my critical thinking development: