Argumentation is the process of forming reasons, justifying beliefs, and drawing conclusions with the aim of influencing thoughts and/or actions. It is a very logical way of discussing or debating an idea, using logic, persuasion, and various debate tactics to arrive at a conclusion. Argumentation is a rhetorical mode used when someone is clearly arguing in support of a particular point of view. It is a special kind of dialogue, where people produce and exchange reasons to support claims or defend/challenge positions, especially in situations of doubt or disagreement.
In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea. Making an argument, expressing a point of view on a subject and supporting it with evidence, is often the aim of academic writing. Argumentation is not just what instructors do, but it is something that everyone uses on a daily basis. The more one improves their skills in this area, the better they will be at thinking critically, reasoning, making choices, and weighing evidence.
