1.2- Recognizing Arguments

Question 1

When does a passage contain an argument?

Answer 1

Contains an argument when it purports to prove something.

Question 2

What two conditions must be fulfilled for a passage to purport to prove something?

Answer 2

1) At least one of the statements must provide evidence or reasons (premises)
2) There must be a claim for which the evidence or reasons are offered (conclusion).

Question 3

What are Typical Nonarguments?

Answer 3

Warnings, Pieces of Advice, Statements of Belief or Opinion, Loosely Associated Statements, a Report, Expository Passages, Illustrations, Conditional Statements.

Question 4

Warnings

Answer 4

Behavior modification but no evidence. This can be turned into an argument, but it is not one on its own.

Question 5

Pieces of Advice

Answer 5

Also behavior modification, but no evidence. (Unless they provide reason, then it would be an argument).

Question 6

Statements of Belief or Opinion

Answer 6

No evidence for what the speaker thinks.

Question 7

Loosely Associated Statements

Answer 7

Statements on a topic, but where nothing follows from something else, no inferential relationship.

Question 8

A Report

Answer 8

A group of statements that conveys information about a situation or event, doesn’t claim to prove anything. (There are no inferential statements to be drawn within the writing).

Question 9

Expository Passages

Answer 9

No proof of the topic sentence, the author merely tries to develop or expand it. Expands on something that is not really a debate. Comes down to the intentions of the author.

Question 10

Illustration

Answer 10

Statements given about specific instances to exemplify a certain subject or thing. “For example…”

Question 11

Conditional Statements

Answer 11

“If… then…” statement. Often a component of an argument.

Question 12

What is the summary of the relationship between conditional statements and arguments?

Answer 12

1) A single conditional statement is not an argument.
2) A conditional statement may serve as either a premise or conclusion of an argument.
3) The inferential content of a conditional statement may be re-expressed in the form of an argument.

Question 13

Sufficient Condition

Answer 13

If A, then B. A= Sufficient condition for event B where event A is all that is required for teh occurrence of event B.

Question 14

Necessary Condition

Answer 14

If A, then B. B= Necessary condition for event A where event A cannot occur without the occurrence of B.

Question 15

What are the two distinct components of an explanation?

Answer 15

Explanandum and explanans.

Question 16

Explanandum

Answer 16

The statement that describes the event or phenomenon to be explained. This is not an argument because it assumes that this is already accepted.

Question 17

Explanans

Answer 17

The statement or group of statements that purport to do the explaining.