Argument Elements

Question 1

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“Harper is not a god.” Harper is human. No human is a god.

Answer 1

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 2

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“You should buy Skippy peanut butter.” It’s very good peanut butter. It’s the kind that Celine Dion eats.

Answer 2

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 3

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

The jaguar once ranged from northern Argentina to the southwestern USA. “Since 1900, it has lost more than half of its range, and is in danger of extinction.”

Answer 3

There is no argument, and therefore no conclusion.

Question 4

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

You’re tired and you have a big day tomorrow; “you should go to bed”.

Answer 4

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 5

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

60% of Canadians play hockey. Jane is Canadian, which is “why she plays hockey”.

Answer 5

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 6

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“Man-made artifacts are complex, have functions and are designed”. Natural beings, such as animals, are complex and have functions. Therefore, natural beings must also have been designed.

Answer 6

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 7

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

All the ravens I’ve seen up to now have been black, so “the next raven that I see will be black”.

Answer 7

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 8

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“Sheep are the dumbest of animals. If one of them walks off a cliff, the others will follow. And if they get rolled on their backs, they cannot stand up.”

Answer 8

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 9

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

You’re tired and you have a big day tomorrow, so “why don’t you go to bed”?

Answer 9

There is no argument, and therefore no conclusion.

The sentence that might appear to be the conclusion is a question, and therefore not a claim.

Question 10

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Do you think this dress makes me look fat? Should I wear it to the party? No, “I should go change”.

Answer 10

There is no argument, and therefore no conclusion.

There is a potential prescriptive conclusion, but no explicit claims to support this conclusion.

Question 11

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“George Bush ruined the economy of the USA.” He tried to rollback civil rights. He started two wars, at least one of which was a disaster. He was a terrible president.

Answer 11

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 12

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

He took his bike to work today, so “his job must be easy”.

Answer 12

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 13

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Smoking is disgusting. It makes your breath smell horrible. Kissing someone who smokes makes you want to vomit. “Besides, it will kill you!”

Answer 13

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 14

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

“Every day this month the postman has come at 8:30 AM.” The postman will come at 8:30 AM today.

Answer 14

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 15

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

It’s monsoon season; therefore, “the ground is probably wet”.

Answer 15

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 16

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Belief in God is universal. After all, “everybody believes in God”.

Answer 16

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 17

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Every Vancouver Canucks’ fan rioted when they lost the final. Vilma is a Canucks’ fan, and an opera singer. “She rioted.”

Answer 17

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 18

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Farm folk call the evening meal ‘supper’, and city people ‘dinner’. “We have to arrest those farm folk for cannibalism before they eat any more city people”.

Answer 18

There is no argument, and therefore no conclusion.

It is a joke. There is no rational persuasion here.

Question 19

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

If it were Tuesday, then I would be wearing a necktie. “I am wearing a necktie”, so it must be a Tuesday.

Answer 19

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 20

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

He’s likely a spy. He has a secret compartment in his briefcase and “spies usually have secret compartments in their briefcases”.

Answer 20

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 21

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

If you are the Prime Minister of Canada, then you live on Rideau Street. Ben Mulroney lives on Rideau Street. So “Ben is the PM of Canada.”

Answer 21

The text in the apostrophes is the conclusion of the argument.

Question 22

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Cars cause thousands of deaths each year. Cars are more dangerous than planes. “Cars are ruining the environment. It’s time to ban cars.”

Answer 22

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 23

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

You and I both know that “you won’t win the lottery tomorrow”.

Answer 23

There is no argument, and therefore no conclusion.

Question 24

Is the text in the apostrophes the conclusion?

Hi Tara, “I’m on my way to school. I left 5 minutes later than usual. Traffic is heavy and I need to stop for coffee”, so I might be late for class. Ciao.

Answer 24

The text in the apostrophes is not the argument’s conclusion.

Question 25

What are the premises and the conclusion of the following argument?

What’s my view? Bush ruined the economy. He tried to roll back civil rights. He started two wars, one of which is a disaster. Thus, he was a terrible president.

Answer 25

P1: George Bush ruined the economy of the USA.

P2: George Bush tried to roll back civil rights in the USA.

P3: George Bush started two wars, one of which was a disaster.

C: George Bush was a terrible president.

Question 26

What are the premises and the conclusion of the following argument?

Plato used the symbolism of the old Greek myths to communicate abstractions that could not otherwise be conveyed. His ideas were not limited or personalized concepts like the old deities, but instead were ultimate principles discoverable by human reason. Thus, Plato’s ‘idea of the Good’ should not be interpreted in theistic terms.

Answer 26

P1: Plato used the old Greek myths to communicate abstractions that could not be otherwise conveyed.

P2: Plato’s concepts were not limited or personalized ideas like the old deities, but instead were ultimate principles discoverable by human reason.

C: Plato’s ‘idea of the Good’ should not be interpreted in theistic terms.

Question 27

What are the premises and the conclusion of the following argument?

We should be careful when describing our beliefs as ‘opinions’, since we could actually give reasons to support many of them. Calling them ‘opinions’ suggests that we couldn’t back them with any evidence worth considering.

Answer 27

P1: We [any person] can give reasons to support many of our beliefs.

P2: Calling our beliefs ‘opinions’ suggests that we couldn’t offer any supporting evidence worth considering.

C: We [any person] should be careful when describing our beliefs as ‘opinions’.

Question 28

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

To be alienated from one’s way of life is to go through the motions of participating in some or even all of its practices while seeing no meaning or value in them. Alienation is, therefore, a distinctive kind of identity confusion.

Answer 28

P1: To be [for anyone] alienated from one’s way of life is to go through the motions of participating in some or even all of its practices while seeing no meaning or value in them.

C: Alienation is a particular sort of identity conclusion.

Question 29

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

Rice is better than maize as the foundation for a vegetarian diet, for rice provides a more complete protein source than corn.

Answer 29

P1: Rice provides a more complete protein source than corn.

C: Rice is better than maize [corn] as the foundation for a vegetarian diet.

Question 30

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

The decline in relative union membership since the 1950s may result in a reduced capacity for unions to engage in politics. Because the Democrats rely heavily on union political support, they need to be particularly concerned about the survival of the trade union movement.

Answer 30

P1: The decline in relative union membership since the 1950s in the USA may result in declined capacity for unions to engage in politics.

P2: The Democrats depend heavily on union political support.

C: The Democrats need to be particularly concerned about the survival of the trade union movement.

Question 31

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

If individuals do not freely limit their wills and appetites, then the control needed to manage scarce resources will have to be imposed from without. Given that such imposition is almost always seen as tyrannical, a lack of self-control invites oppression.

Answer 31

P1: If individuals do not freely impose a limit on their wills and appetites, then the control needed to manage scarce resources will have to be imposed from without.

P2: Imposition of control is virtually always perceived as tyrannical.

C: A lack of self-control invites tyranny.

Question 32

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

Darwin’s theory of natural selection is incorrect. This follows from the fact that religious mythologies from many cultures describe a ‘special act of creation’ for human life, and beliefs common to many cultures share a common truth.

Answer 32

P1: Religious mythologies from many cultures describe the ‘special creation’ of human life.

P2: Beliefs common to many cultures share a common truth.

C: Darwin’s theory of natural selection is incorrect.

Question 33

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

Science is entirely independent of human intuition. But medicine depends greatly on intuitive, instinctive hunches as to human needs. Consequently, medicine is not a science in any strict sense.

Answer 33

P1: Science in entirely independent of human intuition.

P2: Medicine relies heavily on intuitive, instinctive hunches as to human needs.

C: Medicine is not a science in any strict sense.

Question 34

What are the premises and conclusion of the following argument?

Most people on university faculties are interested in new ideas. So, you’re not going to find many political conservatives there, because conservatives are not generally very interested in new ideas.

Answer 34

P1: Most people on university faculties are interested in new ideas.

P2: Conservatives are not usually interested in new ideas.

C: One will not find many conservatives on university faculties.

Question 35

What are the premises and conclusions of the following argument?

Since good health depends on good nutrition, and nutritious diets are expensive and time-consuming, it follows that good health involves economic issues, and that it’s not simply a medical question.

Answer 35

P1: Good health is dependent on good nutrition.

P2: Nutritious diets are expensive and time-consuming.

C1: Good health involves economic issues.

C2: Good health is not solely a medical issue.