A detailed outline of COMMUNICATION STUDIES 104 - ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE. Chapter 10 on issues, analysis and contentions.

1. Chapter 10
Issues, Analysis and Contentions

2. Asking Questions:
Knowing how to ask good questions enhances your comprehension by
focusing on main ideas and making connections between them.
Three Types of Questions:
● Factual- usually have a correct answer. ex. “Is the sun a star?”
Yes.
● Interpretive- have more than one valid answer based on
personal interpretation supported by evidence. ex.
“What did Bill Murray whisper at the end of 'Lost in
Translation'? No one knows for sure, we can only
speculate, interpret and discuss valid options.
● Opinion- asks an individual what they personally think in
regards to something. It is not right or wrong, it is
simply an opinion. ex. Political and Religious ideas fall into
this category.

3. Issues:
an issue is any question or disputed item on which the final outcome is
dependent.
Characteristics of Issues:
● Issues are phrased as questions, but not all questions qualify
as issues.
● Issues can be introduced by either the pro or con side.
● The number of issues a person can discover is unlimited.
● Issues bring organization to the argumentative environment.
● Issues should be as specific as possible.

4. Issue Discovery:
is the process of asking questions and gathering information in
preparation for decision making. The goal of the research process is to
produce new knowledge.
Three Research Types:
● Exploratory Research- structuring and identifying a new
problem.
● Constructive Research- developing a new solution to an
existing problem.
● Empirical Research- verifiable evidence on the feasibility of an
existing solution to a problem.

5. Analysis:
a systematic approach to problem solving and decision making. There
are four patterns of analysis.
● Cost/ Benefit Analysis- an evaluation of the pros and cons
before taking a course of action.
● Priorities Analysis- is a survey based on prioritizing your
resources in the form of trade offs and sacrifices.
● Programs Analysis- Policies are adapted to achieve certain
goals. As a result, current policies are evaluated against the
goals that have or have not been reached.
● Continuities Analysis- an evaluation of what has been done in
the past and whether it has been successful.

6. Types of Issues:
once the issues have been discovered they can be classified.
● Potential Issues- all of the possible questions that can be
asked of the claim, which we learned earlier, is unlimited.
● Admitted Issues- These questions are raised by one side and
agreed to by the other side.
● Real Issues- These are the questions that remain after
narrowing the potential issues down.
● Ultimate Issues- These, in and of themselves, are sufficient for
the disposition of the claim.

7. Contentions: aka Arguments
what you need to know.
● Contentions are the “reason” or “main point” that support your
position on the claim.
● Contentions mostly come from the ultimate issues that both
the pro and con side reached earlier.
● Contentions become the justifications for your position.
● Contentions should flow from one to the next, advancing the
overall case for your side.
● Contentions should reflect a logical organization, asserting
only one main conclusion at a time.
● Contentions are the foundation, causing positions to become
defined.
● Contention organize and logically structure an advocates ideas
as to why the audience should accept their point of view.

8. Steps to Creating an Effective Argument
Strategy:
1) Do research, brainstorm and/or analyze to discover potential
issues.
2) Narrow down potential issues and select the ultimate issues.
3) Turn the ultimate issues into statements.
4) Advance those statements to create the contentions for your
position.
5) Make these contentions the center of the debate.
6) Argue them using evidence and reasoning.

9. “Meaningful argumentative communication requires that
argument be grounded upon substantive items or issues, the very
foundation of rational argumentative encounters. By carefully
examining what you already know through brainstorming and
analysis, and then by conducting specific research, you will
discover the major issues.”
- James Sawyer

10. “Meaningful argumentative communication requires that
argument be grounded upon substantive items or issues, the very
foundation of rational argumentative encounters. By carefully
examining what you already know through brainstorming and
analysis, and then by conducting specific research, you will
discover the major issues.”
- James Sawyer