Bell Ringer

• In a game of table tennis, twenty-four of the thirty-seven points played were won by the player serving, and Smith beat Jones 21 to 16. Remembering in table tennis that service alternates every five points, who served first?

2.4 Identifying Arguments

• Before evaluating or reconstructing an argument, it must be established that it is an argument.

-In a good argument, the conclusion follows the reasons.-The reasons must justify the conclusion.

– Need to determine if the author meant or intended one of the claims to be a conclusion and the others to be reasons.

– Finding two sentences joined by ‘so’ or ‘since’ (argument indicator words) does not automatically identify a reasoned argument.

Examples

• All mammals have lungs. All whales are mammals. Therefore all whales have lungs.

• All four legged creatures have wings. All spiders have four legs. Therefore all spiders have wings.

Establish an argument

• A partial test can be applied by inserting ‘therefore’ or ‘so’ between sentences and asking: Does it make sense?

• If it makes sense, you have an explicit argument.

• If it doesn’t make sense, there is no argument.

Example

• Completed tax forms and payments must be received by July 31. Late payment may result in a fine not exceeding $100. Your payment did not reach the tax office until August 12.

• Apply the ‘therefore/so’ test between the sentences.

• Completed tax forms and payments must be received by July 31. Late payment may result in a fine not exceeding $100. Therefore your payment did not reach the tax office until August 12.

• Late payment may result in a fine not exceeding $100. Your payment did not reach the tax office until August 12. So completed tax forms and payments must be received by July 31.

• Completed tax forms and payments must be received by July 31. Your payment did not reach the tax office until August 12. Therefore late payment may result in a fine not exceeding $100.

Another example

• Raisa is the only person with a key to the safe. The police are bound to treat her as a suspect. The money went missing when she was in the building on her own.

• Argument??• Raisa is the only person with a key to the safe.

The money went missing when she was in the building on her own. Therefore the police are bound to treat her as a suspect.

Implicit Argument

• In an implicit argument, claims point to a conclusion; but the conclusion is not stated.

• There are only three possible causes of the leak in your system: the pump could be worn, a hose could be split or one of the connections could be loose. I’ve checked the hoses and tightened all the connections, but the machine still leaks.

Classwork

• Have 2 students read the Anita/Bara dialogue in TS Book p. 35.

• TS Book: p. 37 Questions: 2 & 3

Homework

• Complete 2.4 Worksheet