AREA Argumentation Tool-C1001t

Center for Communication

Revised January 8, 2011

A.R.E.A. Argumentation Tool

Title of Document, Presentation, or Interview: ________________________________________________

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Section/Group: ___________________________________________ Location: _____________________

What conclusion, assertion, proposition, recommendation, idea, or position

A
am I selling in this particular argument? [People frequently assert
something in a conclusion: We need to We ought to We should
consider We believe option #3 will Unless we change <blank>]

Assertion
What results, advantages, benefits, goodness (or disadvantages, downsides,

R
pain, drawbacks) can I provide to persuade the audience to accept my claim
above? In other words, what reasons will I offer when the audience asks
Whats in it for me? (WIIFM?)

Result(s)
What evidence, support, proof, justification, facts, or verification can I offer

E
to support my conclusion and reasons above that will persuade the audience
to accept my argument?

Evidence
What presumptions, assumptions, or presuppositions am I making in

A
developing and presenting this argument above? What does this argument
presume? Whats the foundation for this argument that if changed could
alter the acceptability of the argument?

Assumption(s

Copyright 2008-2011 Thomas Hajduk, Ph.D. 1 Communication Strategy: Argumentation C1001

)

What statements, terms, numbers, etc. that I make in this argument will raise

O
an objection from my audience? What points or statements in my argument
will my audience most likely challenge?

+
Objection(s)
What can I say that will refute, disprove, or counter the objections I

R
anticipate above? [NOTE: Make sure you incorporate these
refutations/proofs into the body of your argument (document, presentation,

+ or interview) now that youve anticipated them.]

Refutation(s)

Copyright 2008-2011 Thomas Hajduk, Ph.D. 2 Communication Strategy: Argumentation C1001

A.R.E.A. Additional or Sub-Argument # __ Sequence #
__

What conclusion, assertion, proposition, recommendation, idea, or position

A
am I selling in this particular argument? [People frequently assert
something in a conclusion: We need to We ought to We should
consider We believe option #3 will Unless we change <blank>]

Assertion
What results, advantages, benefits, goodness (or disadvantages, downsides,

R
pain, drawbacks) can I provide to persuade the audience to accept my claim
above? In other words, what reasons will I offer when the audience asks
Whats in it for me? (WIIFM?)

Result(s)
What evidence, support, proof, justification, facts, or verification can I offer

E
to support my conclusion and reasons above that will persuade the audience
to accept my argument?

Evidence
What presumptions, assumptions, or presuppositions am I making in

A
developing and presenting this argument above? What does this argument
presume? Whats the foundation for this argument that if changed could
alter the acceptability of the argument?

Assumption(s
)

What statements, terms, numbers, etc. that I make in this argument will raise

O
an objection from my audience? What points or statements in my argument
will my audience most likely challenge?

+
Objection(s)
What can I say that will refute, disprove, or counter the objections I

R
anticipate above? [NOTE: Make sure you incorporate these
refutations/proofs into the body of your argument (document, presentation,

+ or interview) now that youve anticipated them.]

Copyright 2008-2011 Thomas Hajduk, Ph.D. 3 Communication Strategy: Argumentation C1001

Refutation(s)

A.R.E.A. Additional or Sub-Argument # __ Sequence #

__

What conclusion, assertion, proposition, recommendation, idea, or position

A
am I selling in this particular argument? [People frequently assert
something in a conclusion: We need to We ought to We should
consider We believe option #3 will Unless we change <blank>]

Assertion
What results, advantages, benefits, goodness (or disadvantages, downsides,

R
pain, drawbacks) can I provide to persuade the audience to accept my claim
above? In other words, what reasons will I offer when the audience asks
Whats in it for me? (WIIFM?)

Result(s)
What evidence, support, proof, justification, facts, or verification can I offer

E
to support my conclusion and reasons above that will persuade the audience
to accept my argument?

Evidence
What presumptions, assumptions, or presuppositions am I making in

A
developing and presenting this argument above? What does this argument
presume? Whats the foundation for this argument that if changed could
alter the acceptability of the argument?

Assumption(s
)

Copyright 2008-2011 Thomas Hajduk, Ph.D. 4 Communication Strategy: Argumentation C1001

 What statements, terms, numbers, etc. that I make in this argument will raise

O
an objection from my audience? What points or statements in my argument
will my audience most likely challenge?

+
Objection(s)
What can I say that will refute, disprove, or counter the objections I

R
anticipate above? [NOTE: Make sure you incorporate these
refutations/proofs into the body of your argument (document, presentation,

+ or interview) now that youve anticipated them.]

Refutation(s)

Copyright 2008-2011 Thomas Hajduk, Ph.D. 5 Communication Strategy: Argumentation C1001