Business and technology qualifications, Levels 3-6, in Brussels. Explore qualifications
Portal login
Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and Business

Components of a Valid Academic Argument

AB401 · Academic Writing and Research Skills — Week 9 of 16

CourseAB401
Week9 of 16
SemesterI
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Components of a Valid Academic Argument

  1. Premises, inferences, and conclusions
  2. Criteria for establishing validity and reliability
  3. Evaluating evidential sufficiency
  4. Formulating reasoned counter-arguments
  5. Academic reading and writing in English Part 10: Building logical arguments
  6. Evaluation of Arguments

What you will be able to do

  • 3.4 Explain how to apply techniques to evaluate an argument.
  • 4.1 Explain the key components of a reliable and valid academic argument.

Activity

Start with this week’s 2 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: explain how to apply techniques to evaluate an argument.

Study materials

Videos

  • Academic reading and writing in English Part 10: Building logical arguments · YouTube · Leiden University - Faculty of Humanities · 11 min · for registered students
  • Evaluation of Arguments · YouTube · A Little Bit of Philosophy · 25 min · for registered students
  • CRITICAL THINKING - Fundamentals: Validity [HD] · YouTube · Wireless Philosophy · 7 min · for registered students
  • CRITICAL THINKING - Fundamentals: Truth and Validity [HD] · YouTube · Wireless Philosophy · 7 min · for registered students
  • Master Valid vs. Invalid Arguments (Never Get Confused Again) · YouTube · Let's Get Logical · 5 min · for registered students
  • Deductive vs Inductive Reasoning - Valid & Sound vs Strong & Cogent · YouTube · Thinking About Stuff · 6 min · for registered students
  • 1.2 Conclusions, premises and arguments · YouTube · Chris van Vliet · 3 min · for registered students
  • Episode 1.4: Premises and Conclusions · YouTube · Center for Innovation in Legal Education · 10 min · for registered students
  • CRITICAL THINKING - Fundamentals: Deductive Arguments · YouTube · Wireless Philosophy · 6 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Writing Guide, 11.1: Developing Your Sense of Logic · PDF · OpenStax, textbook chapter; pp. 352–355 · for registered students
  • College Success, 7.3–7.4: Analytical and critical thinking · PDF · OpenStax, textbook chapter; pp. 208–213 · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
MidtermWeek 10
Course chat

Admitted students ask questions on this week’s page in the student portal: an AI assistant trained on the course answers first, and during the course’s timetabled classes Connect to your tutor brings your tutor into the chat, who may start a call if needed.

Open this week in the portal
Course plan
  • Week 1: Introduction to Academic Research and Writing
  • Week 2: Academic Writing Conventions
  • Week 3: Types and Approaches of Academic Research
  • Week 4: Evaluating Sources of Information and Evidence
  • Week 5: The Academic Research Process
  • Week 6: Foundations of Critical Thinking
  • Week 7: Critical Thinking Skills and Argument Evaluation
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Components of a Valid Academic Argument
  • Week 10: Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
  • Week 11: Structuring and Drafting Academic Arguments
  • Week 12: Applying Academic Writing and Research Skills in practice: …
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
Back to the course
Scroll