Argument Maps

An argument map is a
diagram that captures the
logical structure of a simple
or complex argument
An argument with one reason would have a
simple map like this:

Reason (R)
Life is short so
we should seize =
every moment
Conclusion (C)
When an argument has more than one reason it is
shown like this:

Smoking is R1 R2
unhealthy because
it can cause cancer =
and it increases the
chance of a heart
attack
C
Here, the two reasons are independent of each other.
In other words, without R1, R2 would still support C,
and without R2, R1 would still support C.
When an argument has more than one reason that
are connected together it looks like this:

Los Angeles is in R1 + R2
California,
California is in the =
USA, so Los
Angeles is in the
USA
C
Here, the two reasons are connected. Both reasons
work together in a single argument to support the
conclusion.
Argument maps can help to see the structure of an
argument and the reasoning involved

R R1 R2 R1 + R2

C
C C