The document discusses identifying and analyzing arguments in academic papers. It defines an argument as having a claim and reasons or evidence to support the claim. It provides guidance on identifying the main claim of a paragraph, including looking for topic sentences, summarizing ideas, and asking what the ideas have in common. The document also discusses analyzing arguments by examining the evidence provided and considering alternative explanations or claims.

1. IDENTIFYING AND
ANALYZING ARGUMENTS

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Understand the characteristics of an argument
• Identify the arguments in an academic paper
• Analyze the arguments in an academic paper

3. What is an argument?
• Formal way to make a point in academic writing
Two parts:
1. A claim or statement that summarize the main
idea
2. Reasons why the claim is true, and/or evidence
to support the claim

4. For example.. .
CLAIM
Reflective writing
can help students
become better
thinkers.
EXPANSION
It can help
students see that
ideas are meant
to be discussed
and debated.
EVIDENCE
Bridges and Jost found
that students who did
weekly reflective journal
writing about their
course content for a
semester could analyze
course concepts at a
deeper level than those
who didn’t (131).

5. ARGUMENT STRUCTURE
Thesis
Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph
Section
Section • Supports the thesis
• Main argument
• Supports the section

6. IDENTIFYING ARGUMENTS
Stated Clain
• Topic sentence in paragraphs.
• Sometimes the first sentence
To find stated claim
1. Read the paragraph
2. Ask “What is the paragraph about?”
3. Summarize in your own words
4. Find the sentence that matches best

7. EXAMPLE
“The story of Disney’s The Lion King draws direct inspiration from
Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Simba represents Hamlet, the successor of
the King/Mufasa, who swears revenge on his evil uncle
Scar/Claudius. Likewise, Simba’s best friend Nala represents both
Ophella, a love interest, and Horatio, a best friend.”
What is the main claim?
1. Read the paragraph
2. As “What is the paragraph about?”
3. Summarize in your own words
4. Find the sentence that matches best

8. EXAMPLE
“The story of Disney’s The Lion King draws direct inspiration
from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Simba represents Hamlet, the
successor of the King/Mufasa, who swears revenge on his evil
uncle Scar/Claudius. Likewise, Simba’s best friend Nala
represents both Ophella, a love interest, and Horatio, a best
friend.”
• Compares The Lion King to Hamlet
• Says that the similarities are too great to be only
coincidences
• The stated claim is likely the first sentence

9. Not all paragraphs have topic sentences.
1. Identify the important ideas
2. Ask “What do these ideas have in common?
3. Summarize that to get the main claim

10. Example
“According to a paper published in the journal ‘Science’, people in
America living near coal-fired power stations are exposed to higher
radiation doses than those living near nuclear power plants. In
addition, despite popular belief, the production of nuclear energy
results in a lower yearly death rate compared to coal energy
production.”
What is the main claim?
1. Identify the important ideas
2. Ask “What do these ideas have in common?”
3. Summarize to get the main claim

11. Example
“According to a paper published in the journal ‘Science’, people in
America living near coal-fired power stations are exposed to higher
radiation doses than those living near nuclear power plants. In
addition, despite popular belief, the production of nuclear energy
results in a lower yearly death rate compared to coal energy
production.”
• Compares nuclear and coal-fired energy production
• Gives two examples where nuclear is safer
•”Despite popular belief, nuclear energy production is actually
quite a bit safer as a whole than coal-fired energy production.”

12. Remember
•This also works when identifying main
or sectional arguments.

13. ANALYZING ARGUMENTS
• Look at evidence
• Ask questions
Based on the evidence, is there a different explanation or claim
possible?
Is the evidence convincing and sound?
How does the argument/evidence compare with others you’ve read?

14. Example
Every citizen should have access to a free, universal health care system. This
would allow medical professionals to concentrate on healing their patients rather
than dealing with insurance procedures and liability concerns. Each person has a
right to be cared for and having access to free medical services provides patients
with the opportunity for regular checkups when otherwise they may not be able
to afford them.
Universal health care is an impractical system where total costs end up being
much higher compared to privatized care. Doctor flexibility is decreased due to
government policy and those that are healthy are forced to subsidize the health
benefits for smokers and those that are obese. Everyone should be given access to
health care, but not in a publically-controlled system.
VS.

15. Example
Every citizen should have access to a free, universal health care system. This
would allow medical professionals to concentrate on healing their patients rather
than dealing with insurance procedures and liability concerns. Each person has a
right to be cared for and having access to free medical services provides patients
with the opportunity for regular checkups when otherwise they may not be able
to afford them.
Universal health care is an impractical system where total costs end up being
much higher compared to privatized care. Doctor flexibility is decreased due to
government policy and those that are healthy are forced to subsidize the health
benefits for smokers and those that are obese. Everyone should be given access to
health care, but not in a publically-controlled system.
VS.