PHIL347: Checkpoint 1 Exam Questions With 100% Verified Answers Graded A+
making an argument
refer to the process of giving one or more reasons in support of a claim
[Claim] Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) cannot be said to be a side effect of measles vaccination. [Reason] Here's why: "Th...
PHIL347: Checkpoint 1 Exam Questions With
100% Verified Answers Graded A+
making an argument
refer to the process of giving one or more reasons in support of a claim
[Claim] Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) cannot be said to be a side effect of measles vaccination.
[Reason] Here's why: "This happens so rarely—less than once in a million shots—that experts can't be
sure whether the vaccine is the cause or not."
claim
refers to the statement that the maker
of the argument is seeking to show to be true or probably true. We will often refer to an argument's
claim as the argument's conclusion
reasons
The other sentences in the argu-ment, namely those that are used to show that the conclu-sion is true
or that it is probably true, constitute the reason or reasons. Remaining faithful to the variety of ways
we have of talking about thinking in everyday language, we can refer to reasons using synonyms, like
considerations or rationale
conclusion
claim that speaker intends to support
the purpose of analysis
is to find the speaker’s meaning. The very first step is to find the speaker’s conclusion and premises.
WORKING DEFINTION OF AN ARGUMENT
An argument is two or more declarative statements, at least one of which serves as evidence to
support the truth or probable truth of the other.
The statement(s) that provides the evidence is called the reason, or the premise.
The claim that is supported by evidence is called the conclusion.
“I won’t pass this course (conclusion claim) because I haven’t studied (reason)”
“Because”, and words that mean the same thing as “because”, signal reasons/premises.
“Therefore”, and words that mean the same as “therefore”, signal conclusions
How do we recognize a claim (conclusion) when there are no signal words?
1. Try putting "because" and "therefore" before the sentences in the statement and determine what
makes sense.
2. Look for the point the speaker is trying to make. "What is the point the speaker is trying to make?"
"What is the speaker trying to establish as true or probably true?" "What point is he speaker trying to
explain or justify."
NOTE: The conclusion does not always come at the end of an argument. It can be the last statement,
the first statement or somewhere in the middle. Conclusions can also be implied.
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