Critical Thinking at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Lesson 2 by James Powell

1. Critical thinking
James Powell
IM / TMA
HvA University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam
j.r.powell@hva.nl

2. What’s your point?
Identifying
arguments
Why identify arguments?
Must you agree for an
argument to be valid?
Are arguments you agree
with necessarily good
arguments?

3. The components
of a good
argument
Arguments refer to:
Contributing arguments i.e.
individual reasons incl. premises
Overall arguments i.e. the
conclusion, the position, the motion to
be proved
Line of reasoning refers to the way
the contributing arguments support
the overall argument.

4. Activity 1
Longer prison sentences should be
introduced. Heavy punishments deter
criminals. Current penalties for crimes
are too lenient and don’t deter
criminals. Since prison sentences
were reduced, crime has increased. In
addition, victims need to see that
perpetrators are punished.
Q1. Which sentences are the
supporting arguments?
Q2. What is the overall argument of
this text?

5. Activity 2
We should stop investing in space
travel. Space travel is expensive and
the costs outweigh the benefits. There
are much more urgent projects that
need investment more than space
travel. Better alternatives for fuel may
be available in the future.
Q1. Which sentences are the
supporting arguments?
Q2. What is the overall argument of
this text?

6. Activity 3
Now for something a bit more difficult!
First, turn to page 45 of your Critical
Thinking Skills book and do ex’s 3.18
& 3.19.
Identify the main argument, reasons
and conclusions.
When this is done, take a look at this
video. WARNING! Contains a
politician!
Tony Blair, speech, 2001

7. Activity 4
Tony Blair, speech, 2001
Now answer the following questions:
1. What is/are his overall argument(s)?
2. What are the main supporting
arguments?
(Hint. 1. Tony Blair’s speech can be basically
summed up with two, related, but separate
overall arguments. 2. There are a number of
“right” answers, here.)

8. Feedback - Activity 4
Tony Blair’s speech can be basically summed up with two, related, but separate
overall arguments:
1. We need to defeat terrorism or be defeated by it
2. We must build an international community in order to bring freedom, justice
and democracy to the people around the world.
He supports these arguments with (there are others and you may well have noted
down different examples):
Supporting arguments for overall argument 1
- I believe their memorial can and should be greater than simply the punishment
of the guilty.
- Other efforts have failed (not lashing out, not killing innocent people, giving an
ultimatum)
- Diplomacy is futile
- Understanding the causes of terrorism is not appropriate in this case
– There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds, no
point of understanding with such terror
Supporting arguments for overall argument 2
- We are realising how fragile are our frontiers in the face of the world’s new
challenges
- Today conflicts rarely stay within national boundaries
- Our self-interest and our mutual interests are today inextricably woven together
- If globalisation works only for the benefit of the few, then it will fail and will
deserve to fail

9. Now it’s
your turn...
For last week’s homework, you chose
a text / video. Volunteers, please?! Tell
us:
the overall argument / story;
at least 3 supporting arguments (if
applicable, otherwise move on to...);
the examples used to illustrate the
supporting arguments.
Discuss...

10. Mid-term presentation
The mid-term presentation is an opportunity to “show off” the skills that you will
learn in the first half of this course. It counts for 30%. It’s a group assignment.
You will primarily be assessed on your ability to:
present an objective background to an issue
identify the relevant “stakeholders” surrounding an issue
gather views from a range of different sources
gather views from a range of different perspectives
recognise the “gaps” in your knowledge

11. Mid-term presentation
Loosely speaking, your presentation should follow this basic structure:
Introduce the motion and why you have chosen it i.e. it’s relevance
Outline those parties you felt to have a stake in this issue and why
Introduce / summarise (approx.) 5 different articles that you have sourced
For each, detail their overall argument; the supporting arguments and premises;
For each, outline in what ways their arguments might be biased and/or flawed
Outline, on balance, which additional perspectives would be needed to form a
“well-rounded” conclusion to this motion*
*It is important that you DON’T form a concluding judgement on the motion. By which, is meant, it is not the purpose of this exercise to
uncover some “truth” or “right answer”. Rather, to outline the breadth and complexity of the issue.

12. Homework Extra materials:
Information on the ideas discussed
in today’s lesson, see Ch.3 of the
Critical Thinking Skills coursebook
For next lesson:
See
Decide on your presentation topic, www.themindfulthinker.com for
and bring three articles (printed) these activities and more.
that relate to this topic
Extra resources and information on
Critical Thinking can also be found
at the following websites:
http://philosophy.hku.hk/think
http://www.criticalthinking.org