Every position that is not intuitively true must be supported by an argument.

An argument comprises two parts: reason and conclusion.

The reason is the set of statements that claim to imply the position (or conclusion). Each such statement is called a premiss.

The conclusion is the statement that the reason claims to support.

Every argument must pass two tests.

The first test is validity: the reason must imply only the conclusion.

The second test is truth: every premiss must be true.

We must accept any argument that passes both tests.

Premisses that are not intuitively true must be separately supported by a branch argument.

An argument can be rebutted on only two counts: invalidity (the reason does not imply only the conclusion) and non-truth (a premiss false or uncertain).

An argument for an opposing conclusion (or a counterargument) is not a rebuttal.

A complex argument (one with trunk and branches) is more easily attacked than a simple argument (trunk only).

A position is better supported by many trunks than by many branches.

To make a case: One accepted argument.

To break a case: Rebut all arguments.