Creating Arguments

Arguments are created by users at the level Argument Moderator or above. The person who creates the Argument is referred to as that Argument's Administrator, and he or she has additional privileges and responsibilities over the Argument in question than do other users (including others of user level Argument Moderator).

Arguments can literally be about any subject the Argument Administrator wishes, although there are a couple of temporary restrictions.

Thinking Through an Argument

Before you create an Argument Diagram, you need to think through the Argument content a little. An Argument requires:

• an Argument Thesis, which takes a stand - one way or the other - on a specific topic
• at least two Supporting or Refuting Assertions that directly address your Thesis

For example, an Argument Thesis could be "Dogs are better pets than cats". A Supporting Assertion for this Argument Thesis could be "You can wrestle with dogs". Similarly, a Refuting Assertion could be "Cats don't need to be walked".

(Additional guidelines are available for developing well-constructed Assertions.)

Once you have developed the Argument Thesis and Supporting/Refuting Assertions, you input them as nodes in an Argument Diagram.

Understanding the Argument Life Cycle

A thorough understanding of the Argument Life Cycle is equally as critical to creating and managing the Argument Diagram. This help document pertains to step 1 of the Argument Life Cycle - Creating the Argument and releasing it to the Pending Arguments queue for public viewing.

Creating the Argument Diagram

Once you have a Thesis and at least two Supporting or Refuting Assertions, you are ready to create the Argument Diagram. Instructions for this can be found in both illustrated, step-by-step, as well as text-based formats. It is best to read both prior to Argument Diagram creation.

After you have created the Argument, you will move on to Moderating your Argument to guide it through the Pending Arguments queue and into Active Arguments (steps 2-5 of the Argument Life Cycle).