The example in the excerpt helps the authors arrive at which of the following conclusions?

LESSON # 1

Arguments, Premises And Conclusions

Reading Assignment: 1.1 (pp. 1-7)

Click here to bypass the following discussion and go straight to the assignments.

Logic is the science that evaluates arguments.

An argument is a group of statements including one or more premises and one and only one conclusion.

A statement is a sentence that is either true or false, such as "The cat is on the mat." Many sentences are not statements, such as "Close the door, please" , "How old are you?"

A premise is a statementin an argument that provides reason or support for the conclusion. There can be one or many premises in a single argument.

A conclusion is a statement in an argument that indicates of what the arguer is trying to convince the reader/listener. What is the argument trying to prove? There can be only one conclusion in a single argument.

In this lesson you will need to be able to distinguish premises and conclusions:

The foolproof way to do this is to ask yourself what the author of the argument is trying to get you to believe. The answer to this question is the conclusion.

There must also be at least one reason and possibly many. These are your premises.

Your common sense will be of great help here.

You should also study very carefully the lists of premise and conclusion indicator words on page 3 in the text. There will not always be indicator words, though more often than not there are. You should note as well that the conclusion can often be identified as the statement directly before a premise indicator. Remember that these are general rules only. Think of indicator words as "red flags." They are positioned in the argument to signal the author's intent, but always check yourself by asking what's being proven, and what the proof is.

When you feel confident that you have mastered these concepts, do the True/False exercise on p. 13 in the textbook. (section IV) You can check your answers in the appendix of this study guide.

Then do exercises 1.1 I 1-22 on your Logic Coach Software. If you need more practice, feel free to do more. If you use up all the exercises in section I, you may do problems from II and send the answers to me to get checked (this section of the text isn't on Logic Coach) 

When you are ready, complete the following assignments, using the book as little as possible. Hand in both of the following assignments together with a copy of your logic coach record screen. For more detailed instructions on doing this click here.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Rewrite the following arguments listing the premise(s) first and the conclusion last. Each line should be a single statement written as a complete sentence. Feel free to modify the sentences as you deem necessary, without changing their basic meaning. (after all you want to be restating this argument, not writing a new one!) Label the premise(s) P�, P�, P�, etc. and the conclusion C. Leave out any indicator words and any fluff (i.e., sentences which are neither the conclusion nor a premise). 10 points each.

EXAMPLE:

Cats with long hair shed all over the house so you should not get a long-haired cat.

I have heard that they also have lots of fleas.

P�

Long-haired cats shed all over the house

P�

Long-haired cats have a lot of fleas

C

You should not get a long haired cat

1. Fairdale will win the championship because they have the best team.

2. Since the housing market is depressed and interest rates are low, it's a good time to buy a home.

3. China is guilty of extreme human rights abuses. Further, they refuse to implement democratic reforms. Thus, the U.S. should refuse to deal with the present Chinese government.

4. The revocation of the 55 mph speed limit has resulted in an increased number of auto fatalities. We must alleviate this problem with stricter speed limit enforcement.

5. We may infer that the U. S. military is both capable and competent from the results of the Persian Gulf War.

6. Scientific discoveries are continually debunking religious myths. Further, science provides the only hope for solving the many problems faced by humankind. Hence, science provides a more accurate view of human life than does religion.

7. Jesse is one year old. Most one-year-olds can walk. It follows that Jesse can walk.

8. I deserve a raise. I'm very good at my job.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Write out two arguments you have encountered in the course of your day. First write them as you encountered them, then re-write in the format you practiced in assignment 1. Make sure they are arguments, with premises and conclusions. You'll get more practice distinguishing between arguments and other passages in the next lesson. For now just make sure there is a conclusion and at least one premise and you'll do fine. (10 points each.)

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Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this paragraph the definition of crime?

Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this paragraph? The definition of crime is subjective and depends on who commits the crime and what type is committed.

Which idea from the excerpt best addresses the counterclaim that people are only honest when there is a financial incentive quizlet?

Which idea from the excerpt best addresses the counterclaim that people are only honest when there is a financial incentive? Employees who move further up the corporate ladder tend to be more dishonest.

What final conclusion to the authors arrive at through the bagel example?

What final conclusion do the authors arrive at through the bagel example? The majority of people are corrupt.

What purpose does the bagel man serve in the argument?

Most embezzlers lead quiet and theoretically happy lives; employees who steal company property are rarely detected. What purpose does the "bagel man" serve in this argument? He also believes that employees further up the corporate ladder cheat more than those down below.