Argument Map Maker
Write your main claim, then the reasons for it and the objections to it, indented under whatever they bear on — and get an argument map: reasons in green with solid arrows, objections and rebuttals in vermillion with dashed arrows, every box numbered so you can refer to it in your essay. Nothing overlaps, you can lay it out top to bottom or left to right, and you can download it as SVG or PNG. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
Line one is the main claim. Under a claim, write Because: (or +) for a reason and But: (or -) for an objection, indented one step deeper. A reason can have reasons and objections of its own, and an objection to an objection is a rebuttal. A line with no marker is read as a reason.
9 boxes · 4 reasons · 4 objections and rebuttals
Show the map as a numbered table
| No. | Role | Statement | Bears on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claim | Universities should make lecture attendance optional | |
| 1.1 | Reason | Students learn in different ways | 1 |
| 1.1.1 | Reason | Recorded lectures can be paused and replayed | 1.1 |
| 1.1.2 | Reason | Some students prefer to read before class | 1.1 |
| 1.1.3 | Objection | Some students need the routine of a timetable | 1.1 |
| 1.1.3.1 | Rebuttal | Optional attendance leaves the timetable in place | 1.1.3 |
| 1.2 | Reason | Compulsory registers use up staff time | 1 |
| 1.3 | Objection | Lectures are where students ask questions | 1 |
| 1.3.1 | Rebuttal | Questions can go to online forums and office hours | 1.3 |
Title and figure style
Takes the title out of the image and sets the figure number in bold and the title in italics above it — the APA 7 layout.
How to Use the Argument Map Maker
- 1. State the claim. Put your main claim on the first line, as one sentence someone could disagree with.
- 2. Add reasons and objections. Start a line with
Because:(or+) for a reason, orBut:(or-) for an objection. Indent it under the box it bears on. - 3. Go one level deeper. A reason can have reasons of its own. An objection can be answered by another
But:underneath it — that answer is a rebuttal. - 4. Check the map. Each box carries a tag (Claim, Reason, Objection or Rebuttal) and a number, and an arrow pointing at the box it supports or opposes. The table below the image lists everything in order.
- 5. Download. Take the SVG or PNG. Use APA style figure if the map is going into a paper.
The Input Syntax
Indentation decides what a line bears on: a line belongs to the nearest line above it that is indented less. The marker decides how it bears on it. Markers are not case-sensitive, and a minus or plus needs a space after it, so -5 degrees is read as text. A line with no marker is read as a reason, and the tool tells you how many it guessed.
| You write | It is read as | Drawn as |
|---|---|---|
Because: or + | A reason for the box above | Green box, solid arrow |
But: or - | An objection to the box above | Vermillion box, dashed arrow |
But: under an objection | A rebuttal of that objection | Vermillion box tagged Rebuttal |
| No marker | A reason (counted in a notice) | Green box, solid arrow |
Outline and what it draws
Claim: Universities should make lecture attendance optional Because: Students learn in different ways But: Some students need the routine of a timetable But: Lectures are where students ask questions But: Questions can go to online forums and office hours
The claim is box 1. The reason is 1.1, with one objection under it (1.1.1). The second objection (1.2) is aimed at the claim, and its rebuttal is 1.2.1. The example is invented for illustration.
Why Map an Argument
Writing an argument as paragraphs hides its structure. A map shows at a glance which reasons carry the claim, where an objection has no answer yet, and whether a reason is really two reasons joined together. Teachers of critical thinking use maps for that reason, and many essay planners start with one. Putting the strongest objection on the map and answering it is also what makes a persuasive essay persuasive.
Argument Maps and Other Models
An argument map is a different tool from the Toulmin model, which splits one argument into claim, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier and rebuttal. Toulmin analyses a single step in detail; an argument map shows how many reasons and objections fit together around one claim. Use the Toulmin Argument Generator to build one step, and this tool to see the whole case.
- Write each box as a full statement. Recorded lectures can be paused and replayed can be agreed with or contested; recordings cannot.
- Keep one idea in a box. If a reason contains and, it may be two reasons.
- Answer the strongest objection. An objection with no rebuttal is a gap to fill or a point to concede.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an argument map?
- An argument map is a diagram of a reasoned case. The main claim sits at one end, and boxes for the reasons that support it and the objections that oppose it are joined to it by arrows, with further reasons and objections attached to those. It shows the structure of an argument that paragraphs hide.
- What is the difference between an objection and a rebuttal?
- An objection is a statement against a claim or a reason. A rebuttal is a reply to an objection. In this tool, a line that opposes an objection is drawn and tagged as a rebuttal, and one that opposes a rebuttal becomes an objection again.
- How do I mark a reason or an objection in the outline?
- Start the line with Because: or a plus sign for a reason, and But: or a minus sign for an objection, then indent it under the box it bears on. A line with no marker is read as a reason.
- Why are the colors and arrows different?
- Reasons are bluish green with solid arrows, and objections and rebuttals are vermillion with dashed arrows and dashed borders. The tag in every box also names its role, so the map still reads in a black-and-white printout or for a reader who cannot tell the colors apart.
- Can I make a map with more than one main claim?
- No — the first line is the one claim and every other line hangs under it. If you have two claims, make two maps and put them in separate figures.
- Can I put an argument map in an APA paper?
- Yes, as a figure. Turn on APA style figure to set the figure number and title above the image and an optional note below. The box numbers let your text refer to a particular reason or objection, such as the objection in box 1.2.