Chapter 1.2: Recognizing Arguments

Question 1

Summary of an Argument

Answer 1

Argument has at least on premise and exactly on conclusion. The premise or premises set forth the alleged evidence or reasons, and the conclusion asserts what is claimed to follow from the alleged evidence or reasons.

Question 2

Explicit claims

Answer 2

An explicit claim is usually asserted by premise or conclusion indicator words (“thus,”“since,” “because,”“hence,” “therefore,” and so on).

Question 3

Implicit claims

Answer 3

A implicit claim exists if there is an inferential relationship between the statements in a passage, but the passage contains no indicator words.

Question 4

Non-arguments

Answer 4

Simple noninferential passages: 
- A warning 
- A piece of advice
- A statement of belief or opinion
- Loosely associated statements 
- A report
Expository passages:
Illustrations: 
- Arguments from example
Explanations: 
Conditional statements:

Question 5

Conditional statements

Answer 5

A conditional statement is an “if…then…” statement.
The component statement immediately following the “if” is called the antecedent, and the one following the “then” is called the consequent.

Question 6

Sufficient condition v. Necessary condition

Answer 6

If “Sufficient condition”…Then “Necessary”…

Question 7

Summary in deciding whether a passage contains an argument, you should look for three things:

Answer 7

1) Indicator words 2) an inferential relationship between the statements; 3) typically kinds of non-arguments