What you'll learn:
- By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- 1. Identify arguments and their parts within written prose.
- 2. Recognize words which function as premise and conclusion indicators within and between sentences.
- 3. Classify and analyze various prose locutions which are not arguments, such as sentences which make unsupported assertions or contain excess verbiage.
- 4. Apply a mark-up coding method to prose so as to readily restructure a writer's ideas into well crafted arguments.
- 5. Construct argument sequence diagrams and argument class diagrams to model the underlying connections of a thinker's central ideas.
- 6. Employ computer assisted diagramming tools to build informative and practical argument diagrams.
- 7. Discover and integrate Enthymemes (hidden claims) within arguments into a thinker's overall argument structure.
- 8. Organize separate and related arguments into larger package and frame structures.
- 9. Analyze professional and academic essays for evidence-based reasoning structures pertinent to their author's overall conclusions.
A map tells you the lay of land, and how to get from one place to another without getting confused, or even outright lost. Learn how to fully map evidence-based reasoning and arguments from any source -- popular, professional, or academic -- using argument diagrams. In this course, I apply the latest research from specialized modeling languages, engineering diagrams, and philosophy of language to teach you how to "find the lay of the land" within another thinker's writings. As distinguished from courses in Symbolic Logic or Critical Thinking, argument diagramming falls under a third area of evidence-based reasoning called Informal Logic -- the discipline which, in my opinion, is the most interesting! We will explore how arguments are constructed, the types of reasoning they employ, and how these can be visually represented to enhance understanding and critique. This course offers tools not only for students but also for professionals eager to refine their analytical skills. The modules include practical exercises designed to strengthen your ability to dissect complex arguments and to present your own ideas more clearly and effectively. By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the skills to use argument diagrams in various contexts, making it easier to navigate through the complexities of both written and spoken arguments. This is a skillset applicable across disciplines, valuable for anyone involved in analysis, debate, or decision-making based on reasoned argumentation.
