The Art of Argument
by Classical Academic Press (website )
An engaging, award-winning logic curriculum focusing on 28 informal fallacies through humorous advertisements and clear examples.
Best Fit For
Middle school students who enjoy interactive learning and families looking for a structured, visually engaging introduction to logic and critical thinking.
Not Recommended For
Families seeking a strictly secular curriculum without any religious context or students who prefer highly concise, non-discursive textbooks.
What Reviewers Say
Reviewers consistently praise The Art of Argument for its ability to transform complex logic into an engaging subject for junior high and high school students. Cathy Duffy Reviews highlights the curriculum's use of humor and phony advertisements to teach informal logic through relatable topics like politics and popular culture. Finding Joy and Debbie's Homeschool Corner both appreciate the structured, easy to follow format, noting that short chapters make meaty content accessible. According to Hip Homeschool Moms, the course serves as an essential tool for building critical thinking skills, especially when paired with the DVD supplement. The Happy Homeschool Mom observes that the workbook style effectively channels the natural argumentative tendencies of adolescents through creative dialogues. While the LaRocque Family commends the clear organization of the twenty-eight fallacies, they note the material may still be a miss for students who are resistant to new subjects.
How It Works
A typical week involves two to three sessions of about 30 to 45 minutes each, usually centered around the student text and the optional video lessons. The student reads a chapter explaining a specific logical fallacy—such as an 'Ad Hominem' attack—and analyzes the humorous mock advertisements provided in the book to see how that fallacy works in the real world. Parents and students then watch a 10-15 minute video segment where a teacher and students debate the fallacy, followed by the student completing written exercises that require identifying errors in short paragraphs. The parent’s role is primarily to lead a discussion using the teacher’s edition to check answers and explore how these logical errors appear in current news or family conversations.
Switching to This?
Classical Academic Press does not offer a formal placement test for this curriculum because it serves as the foundational entry point for their logic series. The community rule of thumb is to start here in 7th or 8th grade, regardless of previous experience, as it introduces the vocabulary and 'fallacy library' used in later books. Families can easily start mid-year because the 28 fallacies are taught in distinct chapters, though it is best to begin at the start of the book to understand the basic definitions of logic provided in the first unit. If you are switching from a more casual resource like 'The Fallacy Detective,' expect a significant increase in writing requirements and a more systematic, academic approach to definitions.
Curriculum Details
- Price
- $28 - $124
- Grades
- 7 - 9
- Available As
- Print Digital Workbook Video
- Coverage
- Single subject
- Subjects
- Logic & Critical Thinking
- Pacing
- Flexible
- Parent Time
- 20-45 min/day
- Student Independence
- Semi-independent
- Academic Level
- Above grade level
- Worldview
- Christian
- Teach Multiple Ages
- Yes
- Engaging for Reluctant Learners
- Yes
Student Edition is ~$28.95; Teacher's Edition ~$32.95; Video streaming or DVD sets and full bundles range from $90 to $125.
Videos
What You Need To Know About The Art Of Argument || Homeschool Logic NEW Edition
by Life in the Mundane
Reviews We Consulted
Highly recommends the course for its engaging use of humor and relatable examples from politics and advertising to teach informal logic to junior high and high school students.
"This course incorporates humor with examples drawn from current events, popular culture, advertising, religion, politics, and history... These include many phony print advertisements created by the authors that look authentic but which embody one or another of the fallacies."
Describes the curriculum as an essential life-skill tool for teaching critical thinking and argument formulation, noting the optional DVD supplement is invaluable for deeper discussion.
"Teaching children to think critically not only to be more aware of the arguments presented to them, but to allow them to better formulate solid arguments for themselves is a really important life skill to have."
Praises the workbook-style approach for successfully engaging the natural "argumentative" tendencies of adolescents through clear dialogues and creative media.
"The Art of Argument was designed to 'teach the argumentative adolescent how to reason with clarity, relevance and purpose at a time when he has a penchant for the \"why\" and \"how\".'"
Appreciates the structured, easy-to-follow format that makes complex logic and debate accessible for eighth graders, emphasizing its focus on critical thinking.
"This book is composed in such a way that it makes delving into logic, debate, and critical thinking easy... I love the indepth approach and the focus on critical thinking."
Gives a perfect rating for making "meaty" content accessible through short chapters and helpful DVDs, observing that students quickly learn to identify fallacies in real-world advertising.
"The chapters are short, but meaty enough to provide good discussion about each fallacy... Emily (and I) are beginning to be able to pick out and label fallacies that we see in advertising."
Commends the clear organization and division of fallacies, though notes the curriculum was a "miss" for a student resistant to new subjects despite the high quality of the material.
"I loved the look of the books we received. The Art of Argument introduces the student to 28 informal fallacies. The fallacies are divided for the student clearly into 3 categories: Relevance, Presumption, and Clarity."
Updated: March 2026
How This Compares
When compared to 'The Fallacy Detective,' 'The Art of Argument' is more structured and academic, making it better for parents who want a full-credit course rather than a casual supplement. Against 'Memoria Press Traditional Logic,' this curriculum focuses on informal logic—the everyday errors found in advertisements and politics—whereas Memoria Press focuses on the rigid, mathematical structure of syllogisms. Parents often weigh it against 'The Thinking Toolbox,' finding that while 'The Thinking Toolbox' builds general reasoning skills, 'The Art of Argument' provides a specific vocabulary for identifying 28 distinct types of bad arguments. Compared to its sequel, 'The Discovery of Deduction,' this book is much more visual and conversational, serving as the necessary 'easy' introduction before moving into the more abstract concepts of formal logic. Choosing this over a secular logic workbook usually comes down to the engagement level; families find the 'mock ads' and video debates in this program much more effective at holding a middle schooler's attention than standard black-and-white worksheets.
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