1. Critical Thinking

2. What is an argument?
An argument is an attempt to convince someone of something It is composed of statements A statement is a sentence or phrase that is either true or false

3. The truth or falsity of a statement is called its truth value This truth value is what distinguished statements from other types of sentences that are neither true or false

4. The statements that are claimed to provide the support or evidence are called premises The statement that the other are claimed to support is called the conclusion

5. October is either the month after August or the month after September
October is not the month after August
(3) Thus, October is the month after September
What are the premises?
What is the conclusion?

6. I’m so tired of having to go to the library to do my research
(2) Can you believe that half of the reference materials I found there were outdated?
(3) Let’s just tear down the library and do our research online.
What are the premises?
What is the conclusion?

7. The proposed highway expansion should be rejected.
Evidence suggests that bigger freeways often have more traffic than smaller ones.
The highway expansion will also place an unnecessary tax burden on the county.
What are the premises?
What is the conclusion?

8. Handout
Aplia
1,2,3

9. Conclusion Indicators
Words or phrases that can help you identify which statement in an argument is the conclusion See page 14

10. 4. Conclusion Indicators
Handout
Aplia
4. Conclusion Indicators

11. Premise Indicators
Words or phrases used to signal that a particular reason or piece of evidence supports that conclusion of and argument See page 14

12. Handout
Aplia
5. Premises Indicators

13. Identifying Statements in an Argument
Many times, premises and conclusions appear in various orders Multiple premises may be in one sentence When you analyze the argument, you need to identify each individual statement

14. 6. Identifying Statements in an argument
Handout
Aplia
6. Identifying Statements in an argument

15. Enthymemes
Unstated conclusion or premise

16. Handout
Aplia
7,8,9 Enthymemes

17. Not Arguments
Assertions
Questions
Instructions
Descriptions

18. Standard Form
(1) Premise 1
(2) Premise 2
Therefore
(3) Conclusion

19. Handout
Aplia 13

20. Main & Sub Arguments (1) Premise 1 (2) Premise 2 Therefore
(3) Conclusion 1 (Premise 3)
(4) Premise 4
(5) Conclusion 3 (Main Conclusion)

21. Handout
Aplia
14,15

22. Diagramming
Draw a picture of the argument

23. Handout
Aplia
16,17

24. Handout
Aplia