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Education Sessions

Making the Argument: Explaining What You Think So Others Will Agree (or So You Can See If You Should Change Your Mind)

Friday, November 15, 2024
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM  
Location: Water's Edge B
The word “argument” does not mean only “disagreement”—it also can refer to the critical thinking that underlies key judgments about how to solve shared problems. In this session, participants will explore how to build an “argument” to understand what they believe and why they believe it—and to share their beliefs with others. Chief officers sometimes need to issue commands, but sometimes need to be able to offer arguments in support of decisions. Demonstrations and exercises will help participants explore how chief officers can use arguments as part of their communication “tool kit” together with giving commands, asking questions, and expressing preferences. Students will also practice evaluating how the evidence and reasons used in an argument address potential objections and fully support a proposed claim or belief. Knowing what makes an argument logical and persuasive can help chief officers more effectively explain their views to others, or more quickly recognize when logical and persuasive objections to their arguments point to constructive ideas and better solutions to problems.