4.3 Structuring Arguments
（意見を構築する）
One of the difficulties that debaters often face is to structure their arguments.
Yeah, it’s very awkward and confusing.
So what should comprise a single argument?
Good question. An argument should be comprised of a statement, a reason (or two), and one piece of evidence (or two). Be careful about the order of the three components as shown below.
So what does the “statement” mean?
Statement is to concisely articulate your opinion on the subject of debate, which helps other people to understand which side you are on.
During the debate, the debater should explain the reason why s/he agrees or disagrees with the subject.
Exactly. In order to persuade opponents, debaters need to support their reasons with evidence. “Evidence” can be results of scientific inquiries, reports of government-led surveys such as census, or even your own experiences. You can choose whatever facts you think are powerful to support your statement.
I see. I now feel more capable of structuring my argument. The essence is to express my statement, reason, and evidence one by one.
I feel the same, but I’m still not sure how to express the three components.
Sounds like you are both ready to study expressions for debating.