1. Critical Reading: Getting Deeper into Arguments
Chapter 3
Critical Reading: Getting Deeper into Arguments

2. Persuasion, Argument, Dispute
Argument is one kind of persuasion
(dispute is a special kind of argument in which two or more people have opposing views)
Argument appeals to reason and or emotion
It requires writers to prove their trustworthiness by:
Avoiding vulgar language;
Showing an awareness of the complexity of the issue
Showing attention to detail

3. Some Procedures in Argument
Definition
Do parts of the argument need to be defined?
Are examples still relevant?
Assumptions
one or more unexamined beliefs, may be unstated
An Example: Assumptions in the Argument Permitting Abortion
Ours is a pluralistic society, in which we believe that the religious beliefs of one group should not be imposed on others.
Personal privacy is a right, and a woman’s body is hers, not to be violated by laws that tell her she may not do certain things to her body.

4. Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Sound Arguments
All premises are true
The syllogism must be valid
All humans are mortal
Socrates is human
Socrates is mortal

5. Is each premise true? The whale is a large fish
All large fish have scales
Therefore, whales have scales

6. So, if both premises are true . . .
The argument must be valid.
Except, when it isn’t

7. All terrorists seek publicity for their acts.
(true?)
John Doe seeks publicity for his act
John Doe is a terrorist!

8. Induction Gives us new information Allows us to generalize
The bus came at 6:00 Monday
The bus came at 6:00 Tuesday
Today is Wednesday and the bus will come at 6:00

9. Evidence Experimentation Examples Analogies Testimony Statistics
Political candidate has an indiscretion
Therefore that candidate should not be elected
Analogies
Babies are not like bad teeth, to be jerked out because they cause suffering. (assumptions here also)
Testimony
Statistics
Be careful! These can be manipulated

10. Nonrational Appeals Satire, Irony, Sarcasm Emotional appeals
Are these dangerous? Good argument?

11. Checklist for Analyzing an Argument
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