Publishing Archaeology? How do archaeologists make arguments?:
A critique of how archaeologists make arguments, particularly post-processualists. As I describe myself as a post-processualist, I was interested to see what the author had to say. Interesting because I’ve always held myself to what he writes at the end:
Here is how they suggest making arguments (chapter 8, “Making Good Arguments”):
What is the claim?
- What reasons support the claim?
- What evidence supports the reasons?
- Acknowledge alternatives / complications / objections
- What warrant or principle justifies connecting the reasons to the claim?