Outlines and the Argument Structure

     We saw in the logic and arguments handout how to structure arguments within a paragraph, but you will be dealing with arguments that span an entire essay. Arguments of this length rely on a complex structure.

     The key to multi-paragraph complex arguments is that  “A conclusion of one argument can become a premise for another argument just as a daughter in one family can become a mother in another family.”

     Statement 2 is the conclusion to premise 1, and becomes a premise statement for conclusion 3.

     Use this idea to structure arguments beyond the paragraph level. The process starts the same: building an argument inside a paragraph. When the paragraph’s argument is complete, the entire paragraph becomes the premise for a larger argument.

     Consider this topic: Public Transportation is essential for densely populated urban areas. First, it has a truth value as required by argumentative statements. To prove it you need premises to support the idea.

• Public transportation improves urban air quality.
• Public transportation reduces traffic congestion
• Public transportation provides efficient, low-cost transportation for people.

     The truth values of these statements need to be proven logically. How do we know that public transportation improves urban air quality? We need to make the logical connections by providing supporting statements.

(1) Public transportation improves the air quality in urban areas. (2) Most cars and personal vehicles only carry 1 or 2 people to their destination. (3) The carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions lessens the air quality in cities, producing a smog or haze. (4)The emissions from all of these vehicles is a fraction of what a city bus uses; (5) subway trains and light rails are even more efficient as they are driven electrically, so they produce no carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide emissions. (6) The buses and trains can also carry many more people to their destination, from 20 to 100 times as many people as in a personal vehicle. (7) So public transportation moves people to their destination with less impact to the air quality.

     Notice that the conclusion of the paragraph is the first sentence, as it often is in paragraphs. This also serves as the premise for the larger argument that public transportation is essential for urban areas.

 We can make an outline to get a visual representation of the argument, much like the diagram of the sentences; it’s simply on a bigger scale.

1. Public transportation is essential for urban areas

1. Public transportation improves the air quality of urban areas

1. CO2 and CO emissions of cars vs public transportation

2. Number of passengers carried in cars vs. public transportation.

2. Public transportation reduces traffic congestion.

3. Public transportation provides efficient, low-cost transportation for people.

     1 & 2 are the basis for the argument in the paragraph above. A represents the entire paragraph’s argument. B and C represent their own paragraphs. And, just as 1 & 2 are tied to the letter A, the paragraphs of B and C would have their own numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. A, B, and C act as premises for the conclusion for I.

     An outline can provide a blueprint for an argument before you start writing it. If you approach it logically, you will have a solid and complete argument structure for your essay. You should create an outline before writing any argument, just to make sure you have the structure down, and to keep yourself on track when writing.