Oxford Guide to Effective Argument & Critical Thinking

Oddly enough, this brilliantly informative book contains no information about the author, but one guesses that he must be a professional philosopher. I know of no other book that so clearly sets out the best ways in which to structure an argument, whether by way of a speech, an essay or even a book. As such, any reader can benefit to refine and reinforce their approach to a given subject. As he points out at the beginning, the common elements are addressing a question, deciding where you stand on the question, reviewing the claims made by others, offering a counterclaim and supporting it with reasons and evidence, then coming to a persuasive conclusion. These constitute the chapter headings about arguing a case, clarity, fallacies and arguments, supporting the case, certainty and plausibility, the role of belief, sustained of oversimplification, the necessity of logical coherence and the overall structure of your presentation. The book is full of examples from many sources, which are discussed and put in context. Among the details treated are the danger of mistaking correlation for causation, confusing necessary and sufficient conditions, the pitfalls of overstatement and setting up a straw man. There is an excellent summary at the end as well two sample essays. While informative to the general reader, in the first year university student will perhaps have most to gain in terms of writing their most persuasive possible essay.