Critical ThoughtInference II Joining words Conjunctions transitional words

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Critical Thought—Inference (II)

Critical Thought—Inference (II)

Joining words Conjunctions, transitional words and phrases that indicate logical relationships between ideas and

Joining words Conjunctions, transitional words and phrases that indicate logical relationships between ideas and therefore often help us to make this distinction. ¡ Cf. I didn’t drink because I had problems because I drank. ¡

Argument and explanation—distinctions An argument is an attempt to establish a basis for belief,

Argument and explanation—distinctions An argument is an attempt to establish a basis for belief, for the acceptability of your conclusion. In argument, you present reasons for your conclusion in order to convince someone of your point of view. ¡ In explanation, you are clarifying why something has happened or why you hold a given opinion. ¡

Argument structure, logical essay, organization, and revision ¡ When we put arguments into standard

Argument structure, logical essay, organization, and revision ¡ When we put arguments into standard form, we ask critical questions: Is this assertion the conclusion, the focus of the argument? Or is it a premise supporting the conclusion? Or does it support another premise? ¡ Asking and answering these questions sharpens our analytical skills and enables us to read more critically.

¡ ¡ ¡ Standard form can provide an outline of the argument, an excellent

¡ ¡ ¡ Standard form can provide an outline of the argument, an excellent aid in essay organization. Such an outline states thesis of the essay—the conclusion of the argument —and each premise signals a new point to be developed. If you have thought out your argument carefully before you start writing, you will find that putting it in standard form can lead to a good working outline from which to proceed.

¡ Or you may find that you can impose standard form on your argument

¡ Or you may find that you can impose standard form on your argument only when you have done some writing. This kind of outlining is particularly helpful in the revision stage of your paper.

¡ ¡ ¡ After writing a rough first draft of your argument, if time

¡ ¡ ¡ After writing a rough first draft of your argument, if time permits, put it away for a few hours. When you return to it, approach it as if you are a reader. Focus on the bones of the argument—the conclusion and the premises that support it. Write this skeleton of your draft in standard form. Now you are in an ideal position to evaluate the foundation of your argument—before proceeding to matters of development (well-supported

¡ If the structure of your argument has problem—for example, information you initially saw

¡ If the structure of your argument has problem—for example, information you initially saw as serving as a premise in your first draft, you now see does not directly support the conclusion—the time has come to repair any cracks you find in the foundation of your argument. This solid foundation makes the rest of the writing process less difficult and ultimately more successful.

summaries(p. 69) ¡ ¡ One way to explore an argument and reveal the important

summaries(p. 69) ¡ ¡ One way to explore an argument and reveal the important premises leading to a conclusion is to write a summary. Summary come in many lengths Complete and concise To meet these conflicting goals, you must convey the essence of the whole piece without copying whole passages verbatim or emphasizing inappropriate feature of the argument.

¡ Background information, detailed premise support, and narrative illustrations are usually omitted from summaries.

¡ Background information, detailed premise support, and narrative illustrations are usually omitted from summaries. ¡ Paraphrases of ideas—the author’s meaning expressed in your own words— rather than direct quotations, except for a critically important phrase or two, are preferred.

Strategies for writing summary ¡ P. 70

Strategies for writing summary ¡ P. 70

exercise ¡ 以之前對於argument與summary的討 論為基礎,summarize〈地上地 (supertopia)〉

exercise ¡ 以之前對於argument與summary的討 論為基礎,summarize〈地上地 (supertopia)〉

Reason, intuition, and imagination Critical thinking involves more than logical analysis. The creative imagination

Reason, intuition, and imagination Critical thinking involves more than logical analysis. The creative imagination adds another dimension. ¡ Intuition, imagination, and creativity as well as logic are ways of knowing. ¡ Our theory of critical thinking welcomes originality, encourages personal opinion, and considers paradox and ambiguity to be central to thinking and writing well, reflecting the world as we know it. ¡

林布蘭(Rembrandt va Ryn, 1606 -69) ¡ Portrait of Himself and Sakia (28歲 時之作品) ¡

林布蘭(Rembrandt va Ryn, 1606 -69) ¡ Portrait of Himself and Sakia (28歲 時之作品) ¡ Self-portrait (58歲時之作品) ¡

Writing Process WLTC, Ch. 1: 11 -25 ¡ VR, Ch. 1: 11 -30 ¡

Writing Process WLTC, Ch. 1: 11 -25 ¡ VR, Ch. 1: 11 -30 ¡ Class exercise: 1. your writing process ¡ 2. checklist for critiquing personal writing ¡ Homework: feedback to each other (11/7交) ¡

To find a source of information ¡ Clarify the writing goal ¡ Writing from

To find a source of information ¡ Clarify the writing goal ¡ Writing from personal experience ¡

The first thing to remember is that you are unique. ¡ Things happen in

The first thing to remember is that you are unique. ¡ Things happen in the world that affect you, but they affect you in a specific way because you are yourself and not someone else. ¡ The interplay of personal uniqueness and outside events can supply raw material for informative, worthwhile, and interesting essays. ¡

Brainstorming ¡ Free writing ¡ Issue tress ¡

Brainstorming ¡ Free writing ¡ Issue tress ¡

Peer critiquing Checking lists of pp. 17 -18 ¡ What did I find interesting?

Peer critiquing Checking lists of pp. 17 -18 ¡ What did I find interesting? ¡ What does it look like I can learn from this? ¡ What insights caught my attention? ¡ What sentence or section seemed best? ¡ What sentence or section seemed weakest? ¡ What parts would I like to see ¡

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ What parts should be omitted? What parts seemed real? What

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ What parts should be omitted? What parts seemed real? What part seemed phony? What parts did the author really care about? What part seemed worth writing an essay about? What idea held the whole piece together? What was the most important idea? What idea might tie the different points together?

Drafting the essay ¡ ¡ A draft is an attempt to impose structure on

Drafting the essay ¡ ¡ A draft is an attempt to impose structure on the ideas that you have been generating. To create a first draft, study the comments that your peers have made in order to find a topic that is both interesting and productive.