The Case for Argumentation Literacy

Learning how to identify, evaluate, and construct arguments

Most of us think of arguing as a heated verbal exchange that leads to unpleasant consequences. In academia, however, arguing is a means of establishing, revising, refuting, or evaluating knowledge by offering reasons to support a standpoint or claim. This process extends far beyond academia and into our daily lives. For example, looking out the window, noticing dark clouds, and checking a weather app might lead you to take an umbrella. This is practical reasoning: based on your observations and the probability of rain, and the undesirable condition of getting wet that could possibly lead to another undesirable issue of caching a cold, you conclude that you should take an umbrella. You might even suggest that your partner do the same. In doing so, you leave a lot unsaid e.g., details, that if it rains they may get wet, they do not want to get wet, that they may catch a cold as a result, that it is undesirable to catch a cold,… : “It may rain today, so take the umbrella.”. If they respond with doubt, saying, “The forecast and dark clouds looked just like this yesterday, and it never rained, so I don’t think it will rain today (hence no need to take the umbrella)” that exchange becomes argumentation: a social act in which rational parties engage to resolve a difference of opinion reasonably. This does not mean every argument will lead to a conclusion that convinces both parties; you might simply stop arguing and say, “Well, do whatever you want.” However, the moment one party puts forward a position that is challenged by another, argumentation begins. Furthermore, when we make a claim, we often anticipate doubt. Even if no one directly challenges our stance, we naturally provide reasons to support it. This is especially evident during election season, when candidates present their policies, back them up with data, respond to anticipated or imaginary criticisms, and preemptively critique their opponents’ platforms.

Studying this phenomenon has become especially crucial in the age of generative AI, where texts are produced at unprecedented speeds and scales, exposing us to a diverse array of ideas, narratives, biases, and misinformation campaigns. To remain well-informed citizens, we must understand the anatomy of an argument: its core components, how to critically evaluate it, and how to construct a compelling one. These concepts are what this series of articles will explore. So if you are interested in Argumentation Literacy, then follow AIKU.