Construction of argument and evaluation 12th Meeting

A crucial part of critical thinking is to identify, construct, and evaluate arguments. In logic and critical thinking, an argument is a list of statements, one of which is the conclusion and the others are the premises or assumptions of the argument. Accordingly, skill in constructing argument is important in critical thinking

Construct argument-1 Do you think the economics is going improve or worsen in the next six months? Why or why not? What argument can you give to support your conclusion?

Construct an argument-2 Do you think computer can have emotion? What argument can you give to support your viewpoint? Make sure that your arguments are composed of statements

Construct an argument-4 Make an argument in which the conclusion is that you deserve to get grade A

Construct an agrument-3 Make an argument in which the conslusion is student with 75% absences is not allowed to join the final exam

Construct an argument -5 Make an argument that the conclusion is that lecturer should give a good example

Someone with critically thinking can do the following Understand logical connections between ideas Identify, construct and evaluate arguments Detect inconsistency and common mistakes in reasoning Solve problem sistematically Identify the relevance and importance of ideas Refect on the justification of one’s own belief and values

Ability to give reason An important part of critical thinking is being able to give reasons, whether it is to support or to criticize a certain idea. To be able to do that, one should know how to identify, analyse, and evaluate arguments

Evaluation of argument Paper with some arguments is given to students. They are requested to assess or evaluate them

Criticize and support argument or viewpoint To give an argument is to provide a set of premises as reasons for accepting the conclusion. To give an argument is not necessarily to attack or criticize someone. Arguments can also be used to support other people's viewpoints.

Examples If you want to find a good job, you should work hard. You do want to find a good job. So you should work hard

To give this argument is to offer the premises as reasons for accepting the conclusion Dogmatic people tend to make assertions without giving reasons. When they are criticized they often fail to give arguments to defend their own opinions. To improve our critical thinking skills, we should develop the habit of giving good arguments to support our opinions. To defend an opinion, think about whether you can give more than one argument to support it. Also, think about potential objections to your opinion, e.g. arguments against your opinion. A good thinker will consider the arguments on both sides of an issue.

Exercises We should not inflict unnecessary pain on cows and pigs. After all, we should not inflict unnecessary pain on any animal with consciousness, and cows and pigs are animals with consciousness. If this liquid is acidic, the litmus paper would have turned red. But it hasn't, so the liquid is not acidic. Cutting the interest rate will have no effect on the stock market this time round as people have been expecting a rate cut all along. This factor has already been reflected in the market. 

How can you believe that corruption is acceptable How can you believe that corruption is acceptable? It is neither fair nor legal!

Reconstruct argument If you want to improve your reading and comprehension skills, you should practise reconstructing the arguments that you come across by rewriting them carefully in the standard format

Exercises 1. He is either in Hong Kong or Macau. John says that he is not in Hong Kong. So he must be in Macau. 2. If the Government wants to build an incinerator here they should compensate those who live in the area. Incinerators are known to cause health problems to people living nearby. These people did not choose to live there in the first place