Argument Maps

A simple argument map. The contention sits at the top; reasons and evidence support it from below.

An argument map is a visual diagram of the logical structure of an argument. Instead of prose, you lay out your ideas as connected boxes so you can see at a glance whether the whole thing holds together.

Every argument map has the same basic building blocks:

Contention

Your main claim: the position you are arguing for. In a history essay this is your thesis.

Reasons

The arguments that support the contention, each one backed by evidence or sub-reasons below it.

Objections

Counter-arguments: things someone who disagrees might say.

Rebuttals

Your response to an objection: why it does not defeat your argument.

Argument maps are especially useful because they let you:

Play around with ideas quickly and rearrange them without rewriting a whole paragraph
See at a glance whether your big reasons really do "add up" to your contention (thesis)
Spot any reasons that are not yet backed by evidence, so you know where to focus your research

Optional tool: Argument mapping is not a required step in this project. Think of it as a thinking aid you can use at any point to organise your ideas, test your logic, and spot gaps before you start writing. Some students find it most useful right after forming their RQ; others use it when they get stuck mid-draft. Either way, you can rearrange boxes freely, which is much easier than rewriting sentences.

Open ArgMap tool ↗

Activities

Activity 1: Evaluate Two Argument Maps

Open each of the two argument maps below and work through the guided questions for each one.

Open Map A ↗

unisam.nz/argmap#4TM5WQ

Open Map B ↗

unisam.nz/argmap#HUWKEU

For each map, answer these questions:

What is the contention of this argument?
Look only at the top-level reasons (ignore everything below them for now). If you believed those reasons, would you find the contention convincing?
Now look at one reason at a time. Look at the reasons or sub-reasons directly below it. Do those convince you that the reason above them is true?
Based on your answers to questions 2 and 3: if this were your essay, where would you focus your attention to improve the argument?

Activity 2: Make Your Own Argument Map

Create a new argument map in ArgMap for the following contention:

“________ is the best pet.”

Fill in the blank with any animal you like. Then build a map that supports your contention with at least three reasons, adds some evidence or sub-reasons beneath each one, and includes at least one objection with a rebuttal.

When you are done, share your map link with the class.

Open ArgMap to start ↗