HANDOUT: ARGUMENTS ABOUT POLICY

I) Basic types of argument

*Two main types of argument: argument of fact and argument of policy. 
Whereas an argument of fact concerns something that is/is not or 
does/does not exist, an argument of policy concerns something that 
should/should not be done.

*Supporting arguments of policy:  support for arguments of policy will 
differ from that used for supporting arguments of fact.  In some cases 
you will need to make an argument of fact as a subargument in an 
argument of policy.

*Argument of policy can be derived from 2 source:

1) Questions for subarguments of worth or goodness:  Is a proposed 
activity or course of action worthy or good in itself?

2) Questions or subarguments of expediency, advantage, or use:  Is the 
proposed activity or course of action good for the audience in that it 
is expedient, advantageous, or useful?

II) Relationship between arguments of fact and arguments of policy

*When making an argument of policy you will need to establish all the 
necessary parts of the argument of fact: the subargument of existence, 
the subargument of definition, the subargument of quality.

*The amount of time you spend on establishing these arguments depends on 
the extent to which your audience already agrees with them.