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Victor Alvin Ketcham. The theory and practice of argumentation and debate
The theory and practice of argumentation and debate
Table of Contents
PREFACE
PART I. THE PRACTICE OF ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
CHAPTER I. DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF ARGUMENTATION
I. Definitions
II. The object of argumentation
III. Educational importance of argumentation
IV. Practical importance of argumentation
CHAPTER II. THE PROPOSITION
I. The subject-matter of the proposition
1. The subject must be interesting
2. Subjects for first practice should be those of which the debater has a general knowledge:
3. The subject must be debatable
II. The wording of the proposition
1. The proposition should be so narrowed as to embody only one central idea
2. The proposition should be stated in the affirmative
3. The proposition should contain no ambiguous words
4. The proposition should be worded as briefly and simply as is consistent with the foregoing requirements
CHAPTER III. ANALYZING THE PROPOSITION
I. The importance of analysis
II. Essential steps in analysis. 1. A broad view of the subject
2. The origin and history of the question
3. Definition of terms
4. Narrowing the question
(a) Excluding irrelevant matter
(b) Admitting matters not vital to the argument
5. Contrasting the affirmative arguments with those of the negative
III. The main issues
CHAPTER IV. EVIDENCE
I. Sources of evidence: 1. Personal knowledge
2. Personal interviews
3. Personal letters
4. Current literature
5. Standard literature
6. Special documents (1) Reports and pamphlets issued by organizations
(2) Reports and documents issued by the government
II. Recording evidence
1. Use small cards or sheets of paper of uniform size
2. Place only one fact or point on each card
3. Write on only one side of the card
4. Express the idea to be put on the card in the simplest and most direct terms
5. Each card should be complete in itself
6. Material for refutation should be preceded (at the top of the card) by an exact statement of the argument to be refuted
7. The main issue or subject to which the evidence relates should be stated at the top of the card
8. The source from which the evidence is taken should be definitely stated at the bottom of the card
III. Selecting evidence
1. The evidence must come from the most reliable source to which it can be traced
2. A person quoted as authority must be unprejudiced, in full possession of the facts, and capable of giving expert testimony on the point at issue
3. Evidence should be examined to determine whether there are attendant circumstances which will add to its weight
4. The selection of evidence must be fair and reasonable
5. The position and arguments of the opposition should be taken into consideration
6. That evidence should be selected which will appeal most strongly to those to whom the argument is to be addressed
IV. The amount of evidence required
CHAPTER V. CONSTRUCTING THE BRIEF
I. The purpose of the brief
II. Method of constructing the brief
III. Rules for constructing a brief. 1. A brief should be composed of three parts: Introduction, Proof, and Conclusion
2. Each statement in a brief should be a single complete sentence
3. The relation which the different statements in a brief bear to each other should be indicated by symbols and indentations
4. The introduction should contain the main issues, together with a brief statement of the process of analysis by which they were found
5. The main statements in the proof should correspond to the main issues set forth in the introduction, and should read as reasons for the truth of the proposition
6. Every statement in the proof must read as a reason for the statement to which it is subordinate
7. Statements introducing refutation must show clearly the argument to he refuted
8. The conclusion should be a summary of the main arguments just as they stand in the proof of the brief, and should close with an affirmation or denial of the proposition in the exact words in which it is phrased
CHAPTER VI. CONSTRUCTING THE ARGUMENT
I. Attention—aroused by the introduction
1. Kinds of attention. A. Natural attention
B. Assumed attention
2. Methods of securing proper attention. A. Immediate statement of purpose
B. Illustrative story
C. Quotations
II. Interest—maintained by the proof. 1. Necessity
2. Methods of maintaining interest. A. Appropriate treatment
B. Logical structure
C. Style
III. Desire—created by the conclusion
1. Necessity
2. Interest
A. Convenience
B. Pleasure
C. Profit
3. Jealousy, vanity, and hatred
4. Ambition
5. Generosity
6. Love of right and justice
7. Love of country, home, and kindred
CHAPTER VII. REBUTTAL
I. Preparation for rebuttal
1. Sources of material for rebuttal. A. Material acquired in constructing the argument
B. Books, papers, and documents
C. Questions
2. Arrangement of rebuttal material
A. Classification of cards
B. Arranging books, papers, and documents
C. The summary and closing plea
II. Presentation of rebuttal
1. Attention to argument of opponent
2. Selecting the arguments to be refuted
3. Reading quotations
4. Team work
5. Treatment of opponents
6. The summary and closing plea
CHAPTER VIII. DELIVERING THE ARGUMENT
I. Methods of delivering the argument. 1. Reading
2. Memorizing the argument verbatim
3. Memorizing the argument by ideas
II. Physical preparation for delivery
1. Position
2. Voice
3. Emphasis
4. Key, rate, and inflection
5. Gesture
6. Transitions
7. Presenting charts
III. Mental preparation for delivery
1. Directness
2. Earnestness
3. Confidence
PART II. THE THEORY OF ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
CHAPTER I. INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT
I. The application of processes of reasoning to argumentation
II. Inductive reasoning
III. The application of inductive reasoning to inductive argument
IV. Requirements for an effective inductive argument. 1. Perfect inductions
2. Imperfect inductions
A. The number of specific instances supporting the conclusion must be sufficiently large to offset the probability of coincidence
B. The class of persons, events, or things about which the induction is made must be reasonably homogeneous
C. The specific instances cited in support of the conclusion must be fair examples
D. Careful investigation must disclose no exceptions
E. The conclusion must be reasonable
CHAPTER II. DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENT
I. Deductive reasoning
II. The application of deductive reasoning to deductive argument
III. The enthymeme
CHAPTER III. ARGUMENT FROM CAUSAL RELATION
I. Argument from effect to cause
1. The alleged cause must be sufficient to produce the effect
2. No other cause must have intervened between the alleged cause and the effect
3. The alleged cause must not have been prevented from operating
II. Argument from cause to effect
1. The observed cause must be sufficient to produce the alleged effect
2. When past experience is invoked it must show that the alleged effect has always followed the observed cause
3. No force must intervene to prevent the observed cause from operating to produce the alleged effect
4. The conclusion established should be verified by positive evidence wherever possible
III. Argument from effect to effect
CHAPTER IV. ARGUMENT FROM ANALOGY
I. The two factors in the analogy must be alike in all particulars which affect the conclusion
II. The alleged facts upon which the analogy is based must be true
III. The conclusion established by analogy should be verified by positive evidence whenever possible
CHAPTER V. FALLACIES
I. Fallacies of Induction
1. The number of specific instances relied upon to support the inductive conclusion should be determined
2. The class of persons, events, or things about which the induction is made should be scrutinized with a view to determining whether it is homogeneous
3. Whether or not the specific instances cited in support of the conclusion are fair examples should be determined
4. A search should be made for exceptions to the rule stated by the induction
5. The induction should be examined with a view to determining its reasonableness
II. Fallacies of deduction
1. Material Fallacies
2. Logical fallacies
(1). The undistributed middle
(2). The illicit process
(3). Irrelevancy of the premises, or ignoring the question
(4). Begging the question
III. Fallacies of causal relation
1. Fallacies of the argument from effect to cause
(1). Mistaking coincidence for cause
(2). Mistaking an effect for a cause
(3). Mistaking a subsequent cause for a real cause
(4). Mistaking an insufficient cause for a sufficient cause
2. Fallacies of the argument from cause to effect
3. Fallacies of the argument from effect to effect
IV. Fallacies of the argument from analogy
CHAPTER VI. REFUTATION
I. Revealing a fallacy
II. Reductio ad absurdum
III. The dilemma
IV. Residues
V. Inconsistencies
VI. Adopting an opponent’s evidence
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Alton
SENATOR DOUGLAS’S SPEECH
MR. LINCOLN’S REPLY
MR. DOUGLAS’S REJOINDER
APPENDIX B. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Alton
Senator Douglas’s Speech
Introduction
Proof
APPENDIX C. Lincoln’s Address at Cooper Institute
APPENDIX D. Memorandum of Agreement for High School Debating League under the Direction of a College or University
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
APPENDIX E. Debating Agreement for a League Composed of Five Institutions
CONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL DEBATING CIRCUIT OF AMERICA. ARTICLE I
ARTICLE II
ARTICLE III
ARTICLE IV
ARTICLE V
ARTICLE VI
ARTICLE VII
ARTICLE VIII
ARTICLE IX
ARTICLE X
APPENDIX F. Memorandum of Agreement for a Triangular Debating League
APPENDIX G. Propositions
Political. A. Legislative
B. Executive
C. Judicial
D. Franchise
E. Immigration
F. Miscellaneous
Economic. A. Tariff
B. Taxation
C. Corporations
D. Labor
E. Public Ownership
F. Miscellaneous
Social. A. The Liquor Problem
B. International Peace
C. Insurance and Pensions
D. The Church
E. Miscellaneous
Educational. A. Common School
B. High School
C. College
D. Miscellaneous
