Lecture 1

Question 1

What is an arugment

Answer 1

It is a set of statements that includes ONE conclusion and ONE premise.
Premises: it supports the conclusion
Conclusion: is the statement being argued for

Question 2

What are the 3 steps of arugment analysis?

Answer 2

1. Identifying an argument: Is this author making
   an argument at all?
2. Reconstructing an argument: What argument
   is this author making?
3. Evaluating an argument: Is this a strong
   argument?

Question 3

what are step 1 and 2?

Answer 3

1. Identifying an argument: Not all writing/speaking contains arguments. Some is (e.g.):
   ● Purely descriptive: tells about event(s) or thing(s).
   ● Mere opinion: tells us the author’s opinion, but doesn’t give an argument for it
2. Reconstructing an argument: Arguments are not always presented/written/stated in
   the clearest way.

Question 4

what is step 3?

Answer 4

Does NOT concern:
Rhetorical power: is it convincing?
Literary merit: is it original/well-spoken
IS CONCERN:
Rational strength: does it provide a good reason to believe the conclusion?

Question 5

TRUE OR FALSE: An argument can be BOTH rhetorically powerful and rationally strong?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What are the six ways that people deal with arguments?

Answer 6

1. The Credulous Person: believes
   everything they hear.
2. The Person of Contradiction:
   believes the opposite of
   everything they hear.
3. The Dogmatist: holds onto their
   own opinions no matter what.
4. The Skeptic: doesn’t believe
   anything.
5. Relativists: think (somehow)
   everyone is right.
6. Rational thinkers