the 2008 presidential debate

No doubt that the twenty-o-eight election was one the most memorable elections in the history of United States-- for the first time, an African-American ran for Presidency. It was not just a battle of votes or popularity nor who's good or not but it goes deeper in culture and discrimination of black from white. That's what Obamma tried to prove that white Americans aint better than black ones or the other way around. He just wanted to show equality and pure public service.

The United States' Presidential debate is always the most awaited part by peoples all over the world during campaigns and elections. It is their opportunity to speak in front of millions of audience without having a chance to talk against another party or if there is..they stand corrected, they can question each others' proposal during their term of office and others.

The third Presidential debate I could say had pass the standards of debate. They tried to persuade people, shows their sources or profs of their proposals and allegations and most of all they gave each other the respect and the chance to talk and explain their sides in timely bases although there are certain instances that the other interrupts the other. But still, the debate was indeed a good one.

what argumentation is

Argument is a course of reasoning which aims to demonstrate the truth or falsehood...that's according to the online dictionary. Getting further, argumentation is define by Merriam Webster is the act or process of forming reasons and of drawing conclusions and applying them to a case in discussion. That definition is supported by the Wikipedia which states that argumentation embraces the arts and sciences of civil debate, dialogue, conversation and persuasion. It studies the rules of logic and procedural rules in both- the artificial and real world settings.

The main goal of argumentation is to come up with the better ( if not the best ) conclusions on the bases of the facts and arguments presented. In having an argument, a person has to protect its self-interest and beliefs in a rational manner. It does not necessarily mean of to persuade other people but to present your stand and make them feel and understanding your point.

Lawyers do use argumentation in most instances, for example in trials, in preparing an argument to be presented to a court and in testing the validity of certain kinds of evidence. There are some components of Argumentation and Wikipedia present some and these are:

1. Understanding and identifying arguments, either explicit or implied, and the goals of the participants in the different types of dialogue.
2. Identifying the premises from which conclusions are derived.
3. Establishing the "burden of proof" — determining who made the initial claim and is thus responsible for providing evidence why his/her position merits acceptance.
4. For the one carrying the "burden of proof", the advocate, to marshal evidence for his/her position in order to convince or force the opponent's acceptance. The method by which this is accomplished is producing valid, sound, and cogent arguments, devoid of weaknesses, and not easily attacked. In a debate, fulfillment of the burden of proof creates a burden of rejoinder. One must try to identify faulty reasoning in the opponent’s argument, to attack the reasons/premises of the argument, to provide counterexamples if possible, to identify any logical fallacies, and to show why a valid conclusion cannot be derived from the reasons provided for his/her argument.

I guess, those are just some of the basics that I needed to know for now and I will learn about debates, argumentation and more as the classes go further.