REFLECTION

Unit 4: Argument And Evidence: What Is The Argument And What Evidence Supports It?

In this unit, we have focus on argument and evidence. By now, we have known that not every text includes argument and evidence. We have been taught to determine the argument or case being stated. Also, to specify the evidence provided to support the argument and to prove that the evidence support the argument.

We have been taught with five reading in this unit. The first reading is an article about “Body language that speaks to muggers”.

In this unit also, the text we have studied is “Spinning a Web” by Simon Elegant. This is the second reading that had been studied in this unit, and it is actually replacing the article in the book which is “Burning out at nine?” Basically, this text or article includes not only argument, but also a very good evidence to support the argument.

In reading three, “What is the evidence?” it has discussed on some of the problems of evidence. Ruby, L argues that a reader should maintain a critical stance towards everything that is read. By doing this, we also have being taught to always asking or looking for evidence before making any conclusion.

Move on to reading four, “Statistic”. In the early explanation in the book, it informed us about the two definitions of ‘statistic’. When it used with a plural verb, it refers to information about any phenomenon or activity expressed in numerical form. While in its singular, it denotes the art and science of collecting, presenting, analyzing and interpreting numerical data. This reading actually focusing on with the use and misuse of statistics and is intended to caution readers into a more informed response to texts that link facts and figures.

Last reading for this unit, “Crooked and fallacious thinking” is a bit difficult to understand as it relate the thinking with the manipulative factors which are used to influence and affect the judgment of the readers. I personally find it hard to differentiate the way of thinking, with other factors such as using commending or condemning words as different. I actually think it is the same thing, not the other way around.

But as the group to present this topic (Izwani, Azila, Farah Diana) explained more about the confusion I faced, I started to understand and can differentiate it more clearly. To add more to my clearance is the explanation by our lecturer. Finally, I get the idea of the differences.