Candice Benjes-Small, Erin Berman, & Susan Van PattenRadford University

Put on your thinking hat! A creative approach

to argument analysis

Argument Analysis• Critical thinking essential for college– GRE

• Evaluating arguments is difficult for students

Our Thinking Hats• Pink: Summarize the argument• Black: What are the weaknesses?• Green: What are the strengths?• Red: What is your personal, emotional

reaction?• Blue: Who is the audience? Who benefits

and who doesn’t?

Sample argument"[D]on’t drink milk for health. I am convinced on the weight of the scientific evidence that it does not 'do a body good.' Inclusion of milk will only reduce your diet’s nutritional value and safety. Most of the people on this planet live very healthfully without cows’ milk. You can too."

Robert M. Kradjian, MD

Article CritiqueDr. Kradjian’s argument is bad. I like drinking milk and I am healthy. Furthermore, in our county we have many dairy farmers who make a living from selling milk. It is important to our economy that we support the farmers.

Making your hat1. Start with paper skinny side up

(portrait)2. Fold paper in half,

horizontally

Making your hat2. Fold again vertically (quarters)3. Open up the paper

so the crease is in the middle

Making your hat4. Fold down the left corner to the

middle crease

Making your hat5. Fold down right corner, leaving an

edge at the bottom

Making your hat6. Fold up one of the bottom edges

Making your hat7. Flip the hat over and fold up the

second edge

Making your hat8. Open up the bottom

and put on your thinking hat!

"Dear Mrs X,

I have been informed that you are now my advisor and i sure hope you are better than those people this summer.  I need to meet with you asap to fix my schedule as it is not in my interests to take classes before 11 am.  those others this summer said that there were no seats in the classes i close number one at the later hours but for my success i am hoping you can make room.  I am availabe to meet any time after 8pm tonight or at noon tomorrow.

-Student

PS oh and i wondered if you could do something about the parking situation with my dorm too.  we will raise that issue when we meet"

• Hey, Susan – Play that video now• http://youtu.be/98nNpzE6gIs

Methods• Discussion boards• Group work• Scaffolding to the argument analysis• Peer speech analysis

Successes• Acknowledged emotional response

but then isolated it• Encouraged students to explore

different aspects of argument• Developed deeper level of evaluation

and reflection

Questions?