Lesson 3 - Assumptions

Question 1

assume v assumption

Answer 1

assume (v): to take something as true without proof
assumption (n): unstated evidence

every assumption is also an argumentative flaw

to understand the assumption, you must understand the ways the evidence supports the conclusion but does not prove the conclusion to be true

Question 2

Trust v Distrust

Answer 2

do not trust the author’s connection between the evidence and conclusion
question the validity of the conclusion
trust the truth of the evidence

Question 3

Ultimate mistake

Answer 3

do not trust the authors conclusion

Question 4

Step 1:

Answer 4

find the conclusion first
ask questions and define terms to determine the scope of the argument (who, what, when, where, how strong)
- how strong or broad is the language
- what do the main words mean
- paraphrase the conclusion
Be skeptical

Question 5

step 2

Distill the evidence

Answer 5

ID evidence by asking, “why”
- why does the author believe that a specific term in the conclusion has proof
- what did the author mention in the evidence to try to prove a piece of the conclusion
ID extraneous or counterevidence as this is not evidence, but a distraction

Question 6

Step 3

ID assumption by comparing language & terms

Answer 6

Look for:
- terms in the conclusion that are not in the evidence (TICNIE)
- difference between evidence and conclusion
- argumentative tactics which can contain flaws
argue back (last resort):
-find a way that the conclusion could be false even if the evidence is true
-look for a loophole
Know the assumption:
-know the ways the evidence fails to prove the conclusion or know the info needed to make the conclusion true

Question 7

Objective

Answer 7

ID conclusion, Evidence and the Assumption

Question 8

Argumentative tactics

Answer 8

used to create:
good arguments: evidence proves the conclusion
Flawed arguments: evidence does not fully prove the conclusion

Question 9

How to get the assumption

Answer 9

negate the evidence to get the assumption