cpnclsuions,arguments

Arguments and Explanations Information Arguments are attempts to persuade people of something. They use reasons to support their conclusion. If somebody gives a conclusion without reasons, then this is known as a claim.

An explanation is an attempt to inform someone of something, usually something uncontroversial.

Examples People should avoid unnecessary air-travel (Claim) People should avoid unnecessary air-travel because planes cause a lot of pollution (Argument) Planes generate a lot of pollution because they require a large amount of fuel (Explanation) Exercise Decide whether the following sentences are arguments or explanations and indicate your decision by ticking the correct box Explanation Argument The Archbishop of York cut up his collar during an interview because he wanted to convey the way President Mugabe had ‘destroyed the identities’ of the Zimbabwean people As the people of Zimbabwe are starving, the international community must help them People are starving in Zimbabwe because only one in five of the adult population is employed and basic items such as bread are often not available in shops Gordon Brown has boycotted a conference because Robert Mugabe would be there Britain should not intervene in the policies of African countries like Zimbabwe because they are no longer its colonies Some African leaders see Mr Mugabe as an important colleague and object to the idea of the UK interfering with this government.