Argumentation is the practice of creating claim notes (propositions, not just descriptions) and then systematically connecting evidence, data, and other propositions to strengthen them. Bianca Pereira identifies it as PKM skill #5, building on active note-taking, active reading, idea management, and networked reading.
Key Points
Most notes in a typical PKM system are descriptive: "X is Y," "Here's how Z works." Claim notes are different. They assert something: "Remote work increases deep work output," "Spaced repetition is more effective than massed practice for long-term retention." The distinction matters because claims invite evidence, counterevidence, and refinement. Descriptive notes just sit there.
Argumentation determines what should go into your notes. When you're building a case, you know exactly what to look for: examples that support or refute the claim, data points, observations from your own experience, expert opinions. This gives direction to your reading and note-taking. You're not just collecting; you're building.
The practice extends to building storylines through argument lines in note networks. A chain of linked claim notes, each supported by evidence notes, forms the backbone of any article, essay, or presentation. Conceptual zoom (using infinite canvas tools as zoomed-out views of argument structures) helps you see the overall shape.
A critical distinction: idea notes versus output notes. Idea notes live in your vault network, connected freely. Output notes are linearized sequences arranged for communication with others. Argumentation bridges the two. You develop arguments in the networked space, then linearize them when it's time to write for an audience.
This skill sits at Bloom's "Evaluate" level: forming judgments, assessing credibility, weighing evidence, building cases. It's significantly higher-order than simply understanding or remembering information, which is where most PKM practice plateaus.
Open Questions
- How should PKM tools distinguish between claim notes and descriptive notes in their UI?
- What templates or structures best support argumentation workflows?
- Can argument mapping be automated or semi-automated using AI?
References
- Bianca Pereira's PKM skills framework (skills #1-5)
- Bloom's Taxonomy applied to knowledge management