Argument Essay Example
Moore−Parker: Critical Thinking, Eighth Edition
7. The Anatomy and Varieties of Arguments
Exercises
© The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2007
EXERCISES
231
When a premise is unstated, try to supply a reasonable assumption that would make the argument valid or strong. I If you have trouble tracking the parts of an argument that appears in a written passage, try diagramming the passage.
I
Exercise 7-1
Indicate which blanks would ordinarily contain premises and which would ordinarily contain conclusions.
Exercises
.
L L L L L
1. a , and b . Therefore, c 2. a . So, since b , c . 3. a , because b . 4. Since a and b , c . 5. a . Consequently, b , since
c
and
d
.
Exercise 7-2
Identify the premises and conclusions in each of the following arguments.
L 1. Since all Communists are Marxists, all Marxists are Communists.
2. The Lakers almost didn’t beat the Kings. They’ll never get past Dallas. 3. If the butler had done it, he could not have locked the screen door. Therefore, since the door was locked, we know that the butler is in the clear. L 4. That cat is used to dogs. Probably she won’t be upset if you bring home a new dog for a pet. 5. Hey, he can’t be older than his mother’s daughter’s brother. His mother’s daughter has only one brother. 6. Moscone will never make it into the state police. They have a weight limit, and he’s over it. L 7. Presbyterians are not fundamentalists, but all born-again Christians are. So no born-again Christians are Presbyterians. 8. I guess he doesn’t have a thing to do. Why else would he waste his time watching daytime TV? 9. “There are more injuries in professional football today than there were twenty years ago,” he reasoned. “And if there are more injuries, then today’s players suffer higher risks. And if they suffer higher risks, then they should be paid more. Consequently, I think today’s players should be paid more,” he concluded. L 10. Let’s see . . . If we’ve got juice at the distributor,
7. The Anatomy and Varieties of Arguments
Exercises
© The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2007
EXERCISES
231
When a premise is unstated, try to supply a reasonable assumption that would make the argument valid or strong. I If you have trouble tracking the parts of an argument that appears in a written passage, try diagramming the passage.
I
Exercise 7-1
Indicate which blanks would ordinarily contain premises and which would ordinarily contain conclusions.
Exercises
.
L L L L L
1. a , and b . Therefore, c 2. a . So, since b , c . 3. a , because b . 4. Since a and b , c . 5. a . Consequently, b , since
c
and
d
.
Exercise 7-2
Identify the premises and conclusions in each of the following arguments.
L 1. Since all Communists are Marxists, all Marxists are Communists.
2. The Lakers almost didn’t beat the Kings. They’ll never get past Dallas. 3. If the butler had done it, he could not have locked the screen door. Therefore, since the door was locked, we know that the butler is in the clear. L 4. That cat is used to dogs. Probably she won’t be upset if you bring home a new dog for a pet. 5. Hey, he can’t be older than his mother’s daughter’s brother. His mother’s daughter has only one brother. 6. Moscone will never make it into the state police. They have a weight limit, and he’s over it. L 7. Presbyterians are not fundamentalists, but all born-again Christians are. So no born-again Christians are Presbyterians. 8. I guess he doesn’t have a thing to do. Why else would he waste his time watching daytime TV? 9. “There are more injuries in professional football today than there were twenty years ago,” he reasoned. “And if there are more injuries, then today’s players suffer higher risks. And if they suffer higher risks, then they should be paid more. Consequently, I think today’s players should be paid more,” he concluded. L 10. Let’s see . . . If we’ve got juice at the distributor,