Symbolic and Critical Reasoning - IAP 101

Understanding Arguments

Todays Class
Reading Quiz Review Chapter 2 What Are the Reasons? - Ch. 3 Movie!!! In Class Reflection

Chapter 2 Review
What Are the Issue and the Conclusion? Issue: a question or controversy responsible for the conversation or discussion. The stimulus for what is being said. Conclusion: the message that the speaker or writer wishes you to accept (the main point, the authors response to an issue).

Not only do university students have to use their savings to survive, many students also have to work. Since many students have to work, this gives them less time for studying. In order for students to get a good GPA they have to cram for their tests, which is not a good way to study. Therefore, universities should provide more financial aid to the students.

The issue? Should universities provide more financial aid. Descriptive or Prescriptive? Prescriptive - Should universities provide...

Conclusion? Universities should provide more financial aid.

Not only do university students have to use savings to survive, many students also have to work. Since many students have to work, this gives them less time for studying. In order for students to get a good GPA they have to cram for their tests, which is not a good way to study. Therefore, universities should provide more financial aid to the students.

As a new academic year begins, an old campus problem -- student drinking -- still challenges college officials. They have yet to come up with sure-fire ways to eliminate alcohol abuse on campuses. It is even unclear how much help the drinking-age laws are: With certain exceptions, anyone under 21 is barred from purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages, even though 18to 21-year-olds are considered adults in other ways. The drinking-age laws dictate that colleges do what they can to forbid drinking by undergraduates. [Therefore, colleges] should begin with alcohol-free dorms and campus buildings. - (1999) College Drinking: Another Bout. The Washington Post

What is the issue? What should universities do about the drinking problem on college campuses?

What is the conclusion? Begin by creating alcohol-free dorms and campus buildings.

Lets Discuss!
1. What was the issue in your argument? 2. What was the conclusion of your argument?

What Are the Reasons? (Ch. 3)

What if I say... Orange juice is better for the body than coffee College students should always do what their parents say College students should always question what their parents say Head and Shoulders is the best shampoo What is missing?

What Are the Reasons? (Ch. 3)

Reasons! Reasons - beliefs, evidence, metaphors, analogies, and other statements offered to support or justify conclusions. Reasons are WHY we should believe a conclusion. A conclusion is only as good as the reasons! Giving reasons for what we believe is what makes us rational people!!!

Argument
Reasons + Conclusion = Argument There is a logical relationship between the reasons and conclusion. Some facts about arguments: 1. Not all arguments are of the same quality. Some arguments are better than others. 2. They have a goal. They are trying to convince us to believe something. 3. They have reasons and a conclusion.

How do you find the reasons?

Find the conclusion! Ask WHY? Why does this conclusion make sense? Why does the writer or speaker believe this conclusion? Indicator words/phrases: Because of - As a result of - For the reason that - In view of Helpful tip: Color code the reasons and the conclusion as you read!

Frisbee is fun even if youve never played it before. People of all ages and skill levels can play together. 60% of college students who played frisbee said they enjoyed it. Thus, frisbee is a great game. Frisbee is fun even if youve never played it before. People of all ages and skill levels can play together. 60% of college students who played frisbee said they enjoyed it. (C) Thus, frisbee is a great game. (1)Frisbee is fun even if youve never played it before. (2)People of all ages and skill levels can play together. (3)60% of college students who played frisbee said they enjoyed it. Thus, frisbee is a great game.

Different Types of Reasons

There are many different types of reasons: Research findings, examples from real life, statistics, appeals to experts and authorities, personal testimonies, metaphors and analogies. Different types of reasons are good for different types of arguments. More on that in later chapters!

Public swimming pools can be a health hazard. Many public pools are not able to obey the sanitation regulations and therefore allow for the contraction of water-borne bacteria. Studies have shown that only 60 percent of public pools are able to maintain the proper amount of chlorine in the water, allowing for those who use the pool to be infected. Many pool users have become ill after the use of a public swimming pool.

Issue: What makes pools a health hazard? Public swimming pools can be a health hazard. (C) Many public pools are not able to obey the sanitation regulations and therefore allow for the contraction of water-borne bacteria. Studies have shown that only 60 percent of public pools are able to maintain the proper amount of chlorine in the water, allowing for those who use the pool to be infected. Many pool users have become ill after the use of a public swimming pool.

Public swimming pools can be a health hazard. Many public pools are not able to obey the sanitation regulations and therefore allow for the contraction of water-borne bacteria. 1. Studies have shown that only 60 percent of public pools are able to maintain the proper amount of chlorine in the water, allowing for those who use the pool to be infected. 2. Many pool users have become ill after the use of a public swimming pool.

Public swimming pools can be a health hazard. Many public pools are not able to obey the sanitation regulations and therefore allow for the contraction of water-borne bacteria. Studies have shown that only 60 percent of public pools are able to maintain the proper amount of chlorine in the water, allowing for those who use the pool to be infected. Many pool users have become ill after the use of a public swimming pool.

Collegiate Writing - APA Style

Helpful Resources: the OWL at Purdue owl.english.purdue.edu/ citationmachine.net Plagiarism: In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone elses language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledg ing its source.

Collegiate Writing - APA Style

You must cite a reference when you... Quote the author word for word When you paraphrase the authors words or ideas Otherwise its stealing...

Reminders for Paper #1

Cite your source! http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citap a.htm
Kanzi were delivered by someone out of his sight, with other team members wearing earphones so that they could not hear the instructions and so could not cue Kanzi, even unconsciously (Author, year, p. 51).

Reminders for Paper #1

Cite your source - even if its just a paraphrase.
More recently, philosopher Stuart Shanker of York University has questioned the emphasis placed on cuing, pointing out that since human communication relies on the ability to understand cues and gestures in a social setting, it is not surprising that apes might rely on similar signals (Author, year, p. 97).

Homework
Read Chapter Four - Asking the Right Questions Work on your paper!!!