Chapter 2 Recognizing Arguments Recognizing Statements What is

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Chapter 2: Recognizing Arguments Recognizing Statements What is an argument? (What is a statement?

Chapter 2: Recognizing Arguments Recognizing Statements What is an argument? (What is a statement? ) Statement: a sentence/utterance that can be viewed as either true or false. Argument: group of statements, one or more of which is/are intended to prove or support another statement. Premises: statements in an argument offered as evidence or reasons why one should accept another statement. The Conclusion: the statement that the premises support/prove.

Tricky statements Rhetorical question: a sentence that has the grammatical form of a question

Tricky statements Rhetorical question: a sentence that has the grammatical form of a question but is meant to be understood as a statement. Don’t you know smoking will kill you? (means: Smoking will kill you. ) How am I supposed to do that? (means: I can’t do that. ) Ought imperative: a sentence that has the form of a command but is a statement about what ought to be done. “Do X!” really means “You should do X. ” “Don’t blow dry your hair in the tub!” really means “You should not blow dry your hair in the tub. ”

Determine whether, in typical contexts, the following sentences are statements or nonstatements. (Note: Some

Determine whether, in typical contexts, the following sentences are statements or nonstatements. (Note: Some of these are tough. ) 1. What time is the concert tonight? 2. My feet are sore. 3. Cowabunga, dude! 4. Why is man less durable than the works of his hand, but because this is not the place of his rest? (William Penn) 5. Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. 6. Give me a call if you have trouble downloading the file. 7. You'd better quit while you're ahead.

1. What time is the concert tonight? Nonstatement (question) 2. My feet are sore.

1. What time is the concert tonight? Nonstatement (question) 2. My feet are sore. Statement 3. Cowabunga, dude! Nonstatement (exclamation) 4. Why is man less durable than the works of his hand, but because this is not the place of his rest? (William Penn) Statement (rhetorical question) 5. Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. Statement 6. Give me a call if you have trouble downloading the file. Nonstatement (suggestion or request) 7. You'd better quit while you're ahead. Statement (ought imperative)

Indicate in the space provided whether the following statements are true (T) or false

Indicate in the space provided whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). _____ 1. All statements are sentences and all sentences are statements. _____ 2. Rhetorical questions are statements. _____ 3. A single grammatical sentence may be used to express more than one statement.

____F_ 1. All statements are sentences and all sentences are statements. ____T_ 2. Rhetorical

____F_ 1. All statements are sentences and all sentences are statements. ____T_ 2. Rhetorical questions are statements. ____T_ 3. A single grammatical sentence may be used to express more than one statement.

Identifying Premises and Conclusions Identify the premises and conclusions in the following arguments. 1.

Identifying Premises and Conclusions Identify the premises and conclusions in the following arguments. 1. Writing is revision because excellence emerges only through many cycles of writing and reading, performance and feedback. 2. No scientific hypothesis can be conclusively confirmed because the possibility of someday finding evidence to the contrary can't be ruled out.

1. Writing is revision because excellence emerges only through many cycles of writing and

1. Writing is revision because excellence emerges only through many cycles of writing and reading, performance and feedback. 2. No scientific hypothesis can be conclusively confirmed because the possibility of someday finding evidence to the contrary can't be ruled out. 1. 1. Premise: Excellence emerges only through many cycles of writing and reading, performance and feedback. 2. Conclusion: Writing is revision. 3. 2. Premise: The possibility of someday finding evidence against a scientific hypothesis can never be ruled out. 4. Conclusion: No scientific hypothesis can be conclusively confirmed.

Distinguishing Arguments from Explanations. Determine whether the following arguments are best understood as arguments

Distinguishing Arguments from Explanations. Determine whether the following arguments are best understood as arguments or explanations. 1. My computer crashed because I spilled coffee on it. 2. My wife's towel is wet. Therefore, she must have already taken her shower this morning.

1. My computer crashed because I spilled coffee on it. 2. My wife's towel

1. My computer crashed because I spilled coffee on it. 2. My wife's towel is wet. Therefore, she must have already taken her shower this morning. 1. Explanation 2. Argument

Distinguishing Arguments from Nonarguments For each of the following, indicate whether the passage is

Distinguishing Arguments from Nonarguments For each of the following, indicate whether the passage is best interpreted as an argument (A), an explanation (E), or neither an argument nor an explanation (N). 1. I’m calling about all these protestors against the [second Gulf] war. Why can’t people rally around our president and support our men? My God, Saddam Hussein kills his own people, he has no mercy, he cares nothing about anybody but himself. Don’t people realize that if you don’t stop a madman we might not have the freedom to protest or the freedom to come and go as we please in this country?

1. 1. I’m calling about all these protestors against the [second Gulf] war. Why

1. 1. I’m calling about all these protestors against the [second Gulf] war. Why can’t people rally around our president and support our men? My God, Saddam Hussein kills his own people, he has no mercy, he cares nothing about anybody but himself. Don’t people realize that if you don’t stop a madman we might not have the freedom to protest or the freedom to come and go as we please in this country? 2. argument

Multiple Choice Select the best answer to the following multiplechoice questions by circling the

Multiple Choice Select the best answer to the following multiplechoice questions by circling the appropriate letter. 1. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed. (Bertrand Russell, Autobiography, 1969) a. nonargument; explanation b. nonargument; unsupported assertion c. argument; conclusion: Never try to discourage thinking. d. argument; conclusion: You are sure to succeed.

Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed. a. nonargument; explanation

Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed. a. nonargument; explanation b. nonargument; unsupported assertion c. argument; conclusion: Never try to discourage thinking. d. argument; conclusion: You are sure to succeed. 1. c

Effective Arguments Writing Persuasive PrincipleBased Arguments Effective ArgumentsEffective Arguments Writing Persuasive PrincipleBased Arguments Effective Arguments
Design Arguments Arguments for theism Ontological arguments CosmologicalDesign Arguments Arguments for theism Ontological arguments Cosmological
Command Line Arguments Command Line Arguments Arguments providedCommand Line Arguments Command Line Arguments Arguments provided
Inductive Arguments Arguments n Two kinds of argumentsInductive Arguments Arguments n Two kinds of arguments
SUMMARY ARGUMENTS STATEMENTS WITH CONCLUSION Statements claims thatSUMMARY ARGUMENTS STATEMENTS WITH CONCLUSION Statements claims that
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS COMPARITIVE STATEMENTS COMMONN SIZE STATEMENTSFINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS COMPARITIVE STATEMENTS COMMONN SIZE STATEMENTS
Loops Repetition Statements Repetition Statements Repetition statements allowLoops Repetition Statements Repetition Statements Repetition statements allow
Java iteration statements Iteration statements are statements whichJava iteration statements Iteration statements are statements which
Conditional Statements and Conditional Statements Biconditional Statements WarmConditional Statements and Conditional Statements Biconditional Statements Warm
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Financial Statements of aFINANCIAL STATEMENTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Financial Statements of a
Control statements Simple statements Basic structured statements SequenceControl statements Simple statements Basic structured statements Sequence
Selection Statements Selection Statements Selection statements allows ourSelection Statements Selection Statements Selection statements allows our
Conditional Statements Conditional Statements Ifthen statements are calledConditional Statements Conditional Statements Ifthen statements are called