What is Critical Thinking and an Argument? Flashcards
What is critical thinking?
Reasoning, arguing, and evaluating the arguments of others.
What is an argument?
An argument attempts to convince its audience of some point, by citing reasons for believing it.
What is the purpose of an argument?
To convince you of some claim, by providing reasons to believe it.
What is the premises?
The reasons or pieces of evidence the author offers to convince you of a conclusion.
What is the conclusion?
The point about which the argument is trying to convince you of.
What are indicator words for a conclusion?
Should, must, thus, therefore, so, hence.
What are indicator words for a premise?
For, since, because, on the grounds that.
What is a series of related opinions?
When there is not one point which is supported by other points in that passage.
What is an explanation?
They are intended to explain why or how something is the case, or to elaborate on some stated claim.
When you are more inclined to believe the main point, is it an argument or explanation?
Explanation because the author will assume that the main point is accepted and will go on to explain why or how it is so. They are not trying to convince you of the main point or claim.
When you are more inclined to believe the rest of a passage, is it an argument or explanation?
An argument because the main point is something which is unlikely to be believed unless reasons are given, intended to convince you of that main point.
What is the principle of charity?
When interpreting a passage, you should try to be fair to the author’s intentions. This means interpreting the passage in a way that makes the most sense.
What is a description?
They are not intended to persuade anything. They are supposed to give their audience a better or deeper understanding of their central topic.
What is a summary?
Provides condensed and compact versions of information we already have, or complex information we might need.
What is the difference between an opinion and an argument?
It is not crucial for the person making an argument to believe in the conclusion. They are merely providing reasons for why an audience should or could accept the claim.
