Welcome! This argument visualization tutorial is based on the concept of the “transitivity of predication.” While this concept sounds complex, don’t worry. Its application is intuitive and simple. If you understand the following you already get it: If A=B and B=C, then A=C. (For a more technical background on the transitivity of predication see http://inferencepath.edublogs.org/2007/05/27/how-does-a-transitive-inference-path-work/.)

The visual language in the beginning of the tutorial is highly structured for teaching purposes. Once the concepts are understood, a less rigorous design as illustrated in the appendix can be used.

This TRANSITIVITY™ argument schema and visual language avoids many of the application difficulties inherent in the conventional hierarchical pyramid approach. It also produces argument maps that require less elements (thus smaller maps) and is more readable. (For initial drafting of argument maps, Rationale™ argument visualization software is highly recommended. While the software is typically applied based on a hierarchical pyramid approach, it can easily be used with a TRANSITIVITY™ visual language (e.g. for a sample illustration: http://inferencepath.edublogs.org/2007/05/18/a-suspect-for-murder-rationale-horizontal-path-map/).

Enjoy!

To access a more readable full screen version of this argument visualization tutorial:

  1. Click the “on SlideShare” link. It will send you to the SlideShare page where the full screen size tutorial is located.
  2. Click the “full” link at the bottom of the new presentation screen next to the forward and backward buttons.
  3. Simply use the “forward” and “backward” buttons.
  4. MOVE THROUGH THE SLIDES SLOWLY TO AVOID LOCK-UP.

[slideshare id=64711&doc=inference-path-flash-20-letter4052&w=425]