midterm Flashcards
Imagined opposing responses to our arguments are called…
Counterpoints or counterpositions
An argument made to oppose or refute another argument.
Counterargument
Analyzing and evaluating information or arguments to form a judgment.
Critical Thinking
The process of thinking about one’s own thinking and understanding how it works.
Metacognition
The three different types of mindsets (different professions) we often slip into while thinking and talking.
Preachers (when our sacred beliefs are in jeopardy. We deliver sermons to protect and promote our ideals.), Prosecutor (when we recognize flaws in other people’s reasoning: we marshal arguments to prove them wrong and win our case.), Politician (when we’re seeking to win over an audience. We campaign and lobby for approval.)
“Volunteering at local charities is a valuable way to contribute to the community and should be encouraged by everyone.”
Claim of Value
“Water boils at 100°C at sea level.”
Claim of Fact
“Schools should adopt a later start time to improve students’ academic performance and overall well-being.”
Claim of policy
“In kindness, strength is found, A gentle heart will heal the ground. To love, to give, to understand—These acts are worth more than demand.”
Claim of Value
“The sun will rise, the sun will set, Each day it happens without regret. The earth will spin, the seasons change, This truth remains, it will not range.”
Claim of Fact
“As the dog looks up at you with those innocent eyes, wagging its tail, it’s hard to ignore the love and trust it shows. Don’t let another animal suffer. Give them a chance at a better life.”
pathos
“Research shows smoking is responsible for over 480,000 deaths annually. Studies also indicate that quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke by up to 50%. Clearly, quitting smoking improves health and saves lives.”
Logos
“As a pediatrician with over 15 years of experience, I can confidently say regular exercise plays a crucial role in a child’s development, improving both physical and mental health.”
Ethos
The forest’s trees, both old and tall, Provide us air, a life for all. A study shows, with facts in hand, That trees can help reduce the land’s demand. So cutting them down would leave us bare, A world less green, less clean the air.
Logos
A mother’s tear, a child’s sad cry, As loved ones part, and say goodbye. The heart aches deep, the soul feels cold, For moments lost, and stories untold.
pathos
The primary claim the rest of the essay is dedicated to advancing.
The thesis.
Cooking down the source information and your ideas to their essence– one essential and arguable point.
Synthesis
Starts with observations of reality, then draws a reasoning conclusion based on inferences.
Inductive reasoning
The conversation both written and oral, surrounding an issue.
Rhetorical context
The premises are in fact true. The reasoning is also valid which makes the argument…
Sound
Arguing that an idea or action will lead inevitably to unrealistically steeper and steeper consequences.
Slippery Slope
Jumping to conclusions based on insufficient evidence or biases.
Hasty Generalization
The fallacy of distraction. Leading the reader astray by bringing up a different issue as bait to capture their attention.
Red Herring
Misrepresenting an argument so you can attack the misrepresentation rather than the actual argument.
Straw Man
Making an argument in which the premises are based on the truth of the conclusion.
Begging the Question
Occurs when we seek out, find and employ evidence in a way that exclusively reinforces our inclinations or pre-existing beliefs.
Confirmation Bias
Creating beliefs and conscious choices on how to present an issue. For instance, someone “loading” a question.
Framing
Twisting logic and reason to justify a self-serving or pre-ordained course of action.
Rationalization
General principles or commonly accepted beliefs that underlie an argument. Usually based on values an arguer believes their audience shares and will readily accept.
Assumption
When the premises may be true, but the conclusion does not necessarily follow from them and is not an inevitable result.
Non sequitur
