Reminder: do online extra credit

1
Reminder do online extra credit

• Give Dr. Carrier paper copy of thank-you notice
  or forward copy to Dr. Carrier at
  lcarrier_at_csudh.edu
• www.usd.edu/mschrist/diss/consent.html

2
Argument

• Making an argument that is convincing and
  persuasive
• Argument point to be made (conclusion) and
  reasons that support the point (premises)
• Opinion point to be made (conclusion) without
  any premises

3
Example argument

• Lecturing is outdated and ineffective (premise 1)
• Lecturing doesnt focus on individual students
  (premise 2)
• Lecturing doesnt take into account best ways for
  each student to learn (premise 3)
• Eliminate lecturing, focus on student learning ?
  conclusion

4
Standard form

• We put our argument into a particular form
  (premises followed by the conclusion)
• Looks like a syllogism
• Called standard form
• Reveals the Logical Structure of the argument
• Argument looks deductive (if the premises are
  true, then the conclusion has to be true)

5
Steps in analyzing an argument

• 1. put argument into standard form
• 2. apply criteria of a good argument
• Acceptability
• Relevance
• Rebuttal
• Sufficiency
• 3. If all criteria met, then good argument
  otherwise, needs work

6
acceptability

• Premises have to be acceptable
• Acceptable to all parties involved in the issue
• E.g., stated by an expert, common knowledge,
  based on personal experience (look on p. 26 in
  book for many other examples)
• Each premise has to be acceptable

7
relevance

• Premises must be relevant to the conclusion
• Applies to each individual premise
• Premises must support or lead up to supporting
  the conclusion

8
rebuttal

• Rebuttal an argument MUST include a reply to
  the most likely criticism
• Applies to WHOLE argument, not individual
  premises
• Does the argument include a rebuttal?
• E.g., possible criticisms include students would
  take control and make class too easy, lecturing
  seems to work so why change it

9
Sufficiency

• Must have a sufficient number of premises to
  carry your point or reach your conclusion
• Are all of the relevant premises that are
  possible included in the argument?
• If rebuttal missing, then the argument is not
  sufficient