Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide (Chapter 1 - Introducing Arguments)

What is an Argument?

• An argument is when you give reasons (premises) to support a point (conclusion).
• It is not the same as just stating an opinion or explaining something.

How to Spot an Argument.

• Reasons: "because," "since," "for example." Or Conclusions: "therefore," "so," "this means."
• Some arguments don’t use clue words, so you need to figure them out.

Hidden Parts of Arguments.

• Sometimes, an argument leaves out important details, and you have to fill in the missing ideas yourself.

How to Write an Argument Clearly.

• List the reasons first and the conclusion last.

Example:

• Reason 1: All humans will die one day.
• Reason 2: Socrates is a human.
• Conclusion: So, Socrates will die one day.

How to Judge an Argument:

• Valid Argument → If the reasons are true, the conclusion must be true.
• Sound Argument → The argument is valid, and the reasons are actually true.

Two Types of Arguments:

• Deductive Arguments → Try to prove something 100% true (either right or wrong).
• Inductive Arguments → Try to show something is probably true (can be strong or weak).

I've sound this reading a little confusing. Although it did give me a much deeper incite into what an argument actually is. I think most of the time we as humans just know its a argument, but I've never thought into how so this was really interesting to me. I learned that an argument isn’t just stating an opinion, it gives reasons to support a conclusion. Overall, this chapter made me think more carefully about how people make arguments and how to judge them properly.

Works Cited. Bowell, Tracy, and Gary Kemp. A Concise Guide. Routledge, 2002.