What Argumentation Is.  It is an old saying that there are two sides to every question.  Any speaker who supports some opinion before an audience, who advances some theory, who urges people to do a certain thing, to vote a certain way, to give money for charitable purposes, recognizes the opposite side.  In trying to make people believe as he believes, to induce them to act as he advises, he must argue with them.  Argumentation, as used in this book, differs widely from the informal exchange of opinions and views indulged in across the dinner table or on the trolley car.  It does not correspond with the usual meaning of argue and argument which both so frequently suggest wrangling and bickering ending in ill-tempered personal attacks.  Argumentation is the well-considered, deliberate means employed to convince others of the truth or expediency of the views advocated by the speaker.  Its purpose is to carry conviction to the consciousness of others.  This is its purpose.  Its method is proof.  Proof is the body of facts, opinions, reasons, illustrations, conclusions, etc., properly arranged and effectively presented which makes others accept as true or right the proposition advanced by the speaker.  Of course, argumentation may exist in writing but as this volume is concerned with oral delivery, the word speaker is used in the definition.  So much for the purpose and nature of argumentation.

Use of Argumentation.  Where is it used?  Everywhere, in every form of human activity.  Argumentation is used by a youngster trying to induce a companion to go swimming and by a committee of world statesmen discussing the allotment of territory.  In business a man uses it from the time he successfully convinces a firm it should employ him as an office boy until he secures the acceptance of his plans for a combination of interests which will control the world market.  Lawyers, politicians, statesmen, clergymen, live by argumentation.  In the life of today, which emphasizes so markedly the two ideas of individuality and efficiency, argumentation is of paramount importance.

Any person can argue, in the ordinary sense of stating opinions and views, in so far as any one can converse.  But to produce good, convincing argumentation is not so easy as that.  The expression of personal preferences, opinions, ideas, is not argumentation, although some people who advance so far as to become speakers before audiences seem never to realize that truth, and display themselves as pretending to offer argumentation when they are in reality doing no more than reciting personal beliefs and suggestions.

Cite instances of speakers who have indulged in such personal opinions when they might or should have offered arguments.

While argumentation is not so easily assembled as running conversation is, it may be made quite as fascinating as the latter, and just as surely as a person can have his conversational ability developed so can a person have his argumentative power strengthened.