ARGUMENT MAPPING

Below are links to materials describing argument mapping using the Rationale software and heuristics developed by Austhink.

The first and last place to stop for all things argument mapping is the Austhink website. However, here's a sampling of what's available:

Guide to Argument Mapping Materials
Guide - my brief list of the main online materials that describe argument mapping and the Rationale software.

The Shortest Introductions to Argument Mapping
One-minute mapper (at Austhink's website)
My brief handout from a 2006 Teaching Excellence seminar

Materials from 2007-2008 CSU Assessment Grant on Critical Thinking

Final Report for CSU Assessment Grant here.

Analysis of CSU Assessment Grant data here.

Jamel Ostwald's Tutorials
The following tutorials are based off of Austhink's materials and were created with support from a 2006 ECSU Summer Curriculum Development Grant.

Argument Mapping tutorial #1 - Introduction

Argument Mapping tutorial #2 - Claims and Reasons

Argument Mapping tutorial #3 - Boxes and arrows

Argument Mapping tutorial #4 - Identifying Assumptions (copremises)

Argument Mapping tutorial #5 - Objections

Argument Mapping tutorial #6 - Model Maps

Argument Mapping tutorial #7 - Prose to Map

Argument Mapping tutorial #8 - Claims Tables

Sample Argument Maps (mostly historical)
Below are a number of argument maps. Other examples can be found in my tutorials above.
(Many of these maps are in the older Reason!able software, so their appearance is slightly different)

Fuel Efficiency Standards

Tony Blair Doodles

Smoking is Bad

Matthew 26 and putting down your sword

Thomas Paine against Christianity

Examples of Argument Map Worksheets

These illustrate various types of homework/exercises you can assign, and would train the students to follow the rules of argument mapping.

Argument Mapping Student Handout

This is the two-page handout we'll be going over with the students in their in-class orientation.