Follow the steps below to complete your assignment. Step 1: Locate a written argument The argument should be short, ideally only a few paragraphs. Try locating your written argument from a letter to...

Follow the steps below to complete your assignment.

Step 1: Locate a written argument

The argument should be short, ideally only a few paragraphs. Try locating your written argument from a letter to the editor for a newspaper such as The Financial Review, The Age, The Herald Sun or The Australian. To help you get started, take a look at theLetters(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(https://www.theage.com.au/topic/the-age-letters-1rf) section of The Age (2018).

Step 2: Produce an argument map

You will need to produce an argument map for your chosen written argument. You may produce the argument map using any method you like. For example, you may use the online siteRationale(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(https://www.rationaleonline.com/) to produce the map.

You could also produce it using a drawing software package, such as PowerPoint or Visio. You may hand-draw the argument map, and use a camera or a scanner to digitise it (as long as all text is legible). Otherwise, you might find theArgument map template (PPT 53 KB)(attached) useful.

Step 3: Structuring your argument map

In producing the argument map, you should provide the conclusion as well as all of the relevant premises, objections, and rebuttals. Your argument map should show how all of the information is connected. Do not include any information in the argument map that has not been represented in the text.

Indicate, in a paragraph, whether you regard the argument as strong or weak, and explain your reasoning. You should refer to up to five of Paul and Elder's (2014) standards for this purpose.

You should write approximately one paragraph for each standard.

Paul and Elder's standards:

• 
  Clarity– The presentation of the argument is clear.


• 
  Accuracy– The facts being presented are correct and comprehensive. They are not presented selectively to produce bias.


• 
  Precision– The information being presented is specific.


• 
  Relevance– The evidence provided is relevant to the conclusion.


• 
  Depth– The information provided reflects the complexity of the issue being discussed.


• 
  Breadth– The argument examines the evidence from multiple perspectives.


• 
  Logic– The supporting premises are logically connected to the conclusion.


• 
  Significance– The supporting evidence is important, and not trivial or superficial.


• 
  Fairness– The viewpoints of others are presented sympathetically and are not distorted, nor oversimplified.

You can also refer toThe miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(Paul & Elder 2006) (https://www.criticalthinking.org/files/Concepts_Tools.pdf) for further detail on the standards.

Step 4: Finalising and submitting your argument map

You will need to do the following:

1. Post your argument map to your team area for your peer to provide feedback. Include a link to the article you have used.


2. Provide quality feedback to one peer's argument map (refer to the assignment criteria for more information on what is required in the feedback) on the discussion board.
   
   
   • Your feedback should be one to two paragraphs. Aim to write between 75-100 words.
   
   
   
   


3. Submit your argument map (do not submit your feedback as your eLA will check the discussions).