What is an aMap?

An aMap (argument map) is a visual representation of the structure of an argument in informal logic. It includes the components of an argument such as a main contention, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals and lemmas. Argument maps are often used in the teaching of reasoning and critical thinking and can support the analysis of pros and cons when deliberating over problems. This approach in argument mapping seeks to enable research and analysis of natural human decision making in real life contexts of risk and uncertainty. The techniques involved were first presented by Facione and Facione in ‘Thinking and Reasoning in Human Decision Making: The Method of Argument and Heuristic Analysis’.