T. Kruiger

Identifying Argumentation Schemes

Argumentation is always a defense of a point of view: (a) Mother: “I don’t think five pounds pocket money is at all necessary; your sister always got two pounds a week.” Daughter: “That was years ago, and Betty, Monica, and all my other girlfriends get five or six pounds.” (b) History teacher: “Funny that you don’t want members of the National front working for the police, you were, after all, against the German Berufsverbote at the time?” English teacher: “Yes, but at the time it wasn’t about people who are fundamentally undemocratic which is certainly the case with the National Front.” (c) Policeman: “Will you put these tables and chairs back where they belong immediately?” Publican: “Why can’t I put tables and chairs outside? Across the street they put everything outside and you don’t pick on them.” Policeman: “Well, Sir, they pay council rates for doing so, and you don’t!”