Do you see an argument in this passage?
You shouldn’t, because there is none. The first two sen- tences are meant to be assertions of fact, and the
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last one is an expression of indignation. There is no premise providing reasons to accept a conclu- sion. But what if we altered the passage to make it an argument? Look:
The number of abortions performed in this state is increasing, and more and more women say that they favor greater access to abortion. Therefore, in this state the trend among women is toward greater acceptance of abortion.
This is now an argument. There is a conclusion (“Therefore, in this state the trend among women is toward greater acceptance of abortion”) sup- ported by two premises (“The number of abortions performed in this state is increasing, and more and more women say that they favor greater access to abortion”). We are given reasons for accepting a claim.
Notice how easy it would be to elaborate on the nonargumentative version, adding other unsup- ported claims and more expressions of the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter. We would end up with a much longer passage piled high with more assertions—but with no argument in sight. Often those who write such passages believe that because they have stated their opinion, they have presented an argument. But a bundle of unsup- ported claims—however clearly stated—does not an argument make. Only when reasons are given for believing one of these claims is an argument made.