Transcript Logic notes - RC Schools

3003.3
.2
3003.3
.10
Choose the most effective order of sentences in
a paragraph.
Evaluate the relevance of supporting sentences
be deleting an irrelevant sentence in a passage.
3003.5
.10
Identify a false premise in text.
3003.5
.11
Identify the main claim, premise(s), evidence, or
conclusion of a given argument.
 The
first sentence of a paragraph should be
your topic sentence.
 All sentences should support your topic
sentence
 A topic sentence CANNOT be:






Fact
Evidence
Statistic
Fragment
About something other than what the paragraph is
about
Too general
 These
sentences MUST relate closely to the
topic sentence
 They should be





Examples
Statistics
Commentary that develops the understanding of
the topic sentence
Analysis of the topic
Must be in a logical order
 If
the sentences:
are not related to the topic
 are not examples of the topic
 are not analysis of the topic
 are not commentary of the topic
 Are off topic
 Are random statements
 Proving the opposite side (Caution)

DELETE IT!
 Directions:
Read the slides. Then determine
which sentence does not belong. Tell me why
it does not belong.
 (a)I
never know what to do with my hands
when I am giving a talk. (b)For instance,
when I am making an oral report in
history class, I have trouble with my
hands. (c)Sometimes I put them behind
me. (d)At other times I hide them in my
pockets. (e)A good speaker does not
pause very much while he is speaking.
(f)Often I clasp my hands in front of me to
keep them from shaking while I am
speaking.
 (a)I
never know what to do with my hands
when I am giving a talk. (b)For instance,
when I am making an oral report in
history class, I have trouble with my
hands. (c)Sometimes I put them behind
me. (d)At other times I hide them in my
pockets. (e)A good speaker does not
pause very much while he is speaking.
(f)Often I clasp my hands in front of me to
keep them from shaking while I am
speaking.
 (a)It
was really a perfect day. (b)It was a
day that made everything seem beautiful.
(c)The sun shone brightly, but it was not
too hot. (d)The flowers seemed to open
up wider in the lovely weather. (e)It was a
day when the world seemed brighter and
happier than usual. (f)In the winter I have
to stay indoors so much that I like to be
outdoors in the summer.
 (a)It
was really a perfect day. (b)It was a
day that made everything seem beautiful.
(c)The sun shone brightly, but it was not
too hot. (d)The flowers seemed to open up
wider in the lovely weather. (e)It was a day
when the world seemed brighter and
happier than usual. (f)In the winter I have
to stay indoors so much that I like to be
outdoors in the summer.
 (a)Diamonds
are the most valuable of the
precious stones. (b)They were first
discovered in India, probably around 500
B.C. (c)For a long time India was the only
source of diamonds. (d)Later large diamond
fields were discovered in Africa. (e)Many
rubies and other precious stones come from
Burma. (f)The largest and most perfect
diamonds are so valuable that they are
priceless. (g)Most of these stones are now
held by museums and governments.
 (a)Diamonds
are the most valuable of the
precious stones. (b)They were first
discovered in India, probably around 500
B.C. (c)For a long time India was the only
source of diamonds. (d)Later large diamond
fields were discovered in Africa. (e)Many
rubies and other precious stones come
from Burma. (f)The largest and most
perfect diamonds are so valuable that they
are priceless. (g)Most of these stones are
now
held by museums and governments.
 (a)Many
of the vegetables we buy when
we go to the supermarket are "naturalized
Americans." (b)Originally they came from
faraway places. (c)Tomatoes and the socalled Irish potatoes came from South
America. (d)Cucumbers and eggplant
originated in India. (e)Radishes came
from China. (f)No one knows where
apples and pears were first found, but
scientists believe peaches came from
China. (g)Peas, carrots, lettuce, and
parsnips are also from Asia.
 (a)Many
of the vegetables we buy when
we go to the supermarket are "naturalized
Americans." (b)Originally they came from
faraway places. (c)Tomatoes and the socalled Irish potatoes came from South
America. (d)Cucumbers and eggplant
originated in India. (e)Radishes came
from China. (f)No one knows where
apples and pears were first found, but
scientists believe peaches came from
China. (g)Peas, carrots, lettuce, and
parsnips are also from Asia.
 (a)Japan
consists of a group of four large
islands and hundreds of small ones.
(b)The largest and most important island
is Honshu, on which the six chief cities
are situated. (c)The island of Shikoku,
south of Honshu, is one of the chief ricegrowing regions. (d)Kyushu is the most
southerly of the large islands. (e)North of
Honshu is Hokkaido, which is more thinly
populated than the other large islands.
(f)Spring and summer are usually very
pleasant.
 (a)Japan
consists of a group of four large
islands and hundreds of small ones.
(b)The largest and most important island
is Honshu, on which the six chief cities
are situated. (c)The island of Shikoku,
south of Honshu, is one of the chief ricegrowing regions. (d)Kyushu is the most
southerly of the large islands. (e)North of
Honshu is Hokkaido, which is more thinly
populated than the other large islands.
(f)Spring and summer are usually very
pleasant.
 (a)Ice
cream is so common in our lives
that we never think about how we came
to have it. (b)Who first made ice cream?
(c)It is thought that ice cream, like many
other things, originated in China. (d)Some
other inventions by the Chinese are
gunpowder, paper, and silk cloth. (e)It is
believed that a traveler brought the idea
from China to Italy several centuries ago.
(f)From Italy it spread to France and
England, and later to the United States.
 (a)Ice
cream is so common in our lives
that we never think about how we came
to have it. (b)Who first made ice cream?
(c)It is thought that ice cream, like many
other things, originated in China. (d)Some
other inventions by the Chinese are
gunpowder, paper, and silk cloth. (e)It is
believed that a traveler brought the idea
from China to Italy several centuries ago.
(f)From Italy it spread to France and
England, and later to the United States.
 Humans
have known that earthworms have
been vital to enriching Earth's rich soil all
throughout history. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra
called earthworms sacred. The Greek
philosopher Aristotle said earthworms were
the intestines" of the soil. In 1881 Charles
Darwin stated, "It may be doubted whether
there are many other creatures which have
played so important a part in the history of
the world."
 Which
sentence would make the best addition
to the end of this paragraph?
 a) Could Earth support mankind without the
earthworm?
 b) People throughout history have understood
that earthworms are extremely important.
 c) Charles Darwin was a scientist.
 d) Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and
scientist.
 b)
People throughout history have
understood that earthworms are extremely
important.






Earthworms may be divided into three categories. The
Endogeic or soil dwellers live in the top foot of soil. The
Epigeic or litter dwellers live on the decomposing plant
material in wooded area. The third type is the Anecic or
the deep burrowers. The Anecic worm lives several feet
under the ground. They drag organic matter from the
surface to their burrows.
Which sentence would make the best conclusion
to the end of this paragraph?
a) These three types of worms have been given
Greek names meaning "up from the earth",
"within the earth", and "upon the earth".
b) Earthworms live anywhere the climate is not
too hot or too cold, or too wet or too dry.
c) Earthworms vary greatly in size.
d) During cold months worms become dormant
or move to warmer locations such as the
compost pile.
 a)
These three types of worms have been
given Greek names meaning "up from the
earth", "within the earth", and "upon the
earth".
 Have
you ever bitten into a nice juicy apple
only to find that a worm had already been
there? The apple worm is really the caterpillar
of the codling moth. The young hatch from
eggs the size of pin heads and feast on apples
for about a month. When the caterpillar is
about a half-inch long it leaves the apple and
spins a cocoon. After a month the adult moth
emerges.
 Which sentence would make the best addition
to the end of this paragraph?
a) Apples are an extremely healthy food to eat.
b) Moths and butterflies are different in several
ways.
c) Sometimes three generations of the codling
moths may live in the orchard in just a year.
d) The codling moth is a pesky varmint.
 c)
Sometimes three generations of the
codling moths may live in the orchard in just
a year.
The codling moth is native to Europe. Settlers
brought the moth to North America with
apples in about 1750. The moth moved
westward across the United States and finally
reached California in 1874. The moth damages
apples, pears and even English walnuts.
Which sentence would make the best addition
to the end of this paragraph?
a) Several harmful insects have reached North
America by transporting plants across the Atlantic
Ocean.
b) Farmers have lost millions of dollars in crops
due to the codling moth.
c) The only thing worse than biting into an apple
and finding a worm, is biting into an apple and
finding only half a worm.
d) Moths are attracted to the light.

 b)
Farmers have lost millions of dollars in
crops due to the codling moth.

The symbol of the worm may be found in several
figurative language phrases. When you are
referring to a controversial issue you may say,
"Don't open that can of worms." A person whom you
do not respect may be called a worm. When you
are in an awkward situation you may try to "worm
your way out of it". One type of computer virus is
known as a worm.
Which sentence would make the best addition to
the end of this paragraph?
a) Americans use many figurative language phrases
that do not have literal meanings.
b) Once my computer was attacked by a worm that
came through on an e-mail.
c) On one television show I watched, the team had to
try to figure out which person playing the game was
the worm.
d) In each of these phrases the word worm has a
negative undertone.

 d)
In each of these phrases the word worm
has a negative undertone.


After Myra was unable to make up her mind about who
she wanted to marry, Elya decided to leave Latvia. He
moved to America where he fell in love and was
married. Soon afterwards he began having bad luck,
and he felt he was cursed. Walking under a ladder,
black cats, and spilling salt are bad luck. Hoping to
change his luck he tried to find Madame Zeroni's son
but had no luck.
1. Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?
A. After Myra was unable to make up her mind on who
she wanted to marry, Elya decided to leave Latvia.
B. He moved to America where he fell in love and was
married.
C. Soon afterwards he began having bad luck, and he
felt he was cursed.
D. Walking under a ladder, black cats, and spilling salt
are bad luck.
D. Walking under a ladder, black
cats, and spilling salt are bad luck.

Elya Yelnats' wife decided to name her son Stanley
because she noticed that Yelnats spelled
backwards was Stanley. Words that are spelled the
same backwards or forwards are known as
palindromes. Naming the first son Stanley became
a family tradition in the Yelnats family. The
Stanley of Camp Green Lake was actually Stanley
Yelnets IV.

2.
Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Elya Yelnats' wife decided to name her son Stanley
because she noticed that Yelnats spelled backwards was
Stanley.
Words that are spelled the same backwards or forwards
are known as palindromes.
Naming the first son Stanley became a family tradition in
the Yelnats family.
The Stanley of Camp Green Lake was actually Stanley
Yelnets IV.
B. Words that are spelled the same backwards or
forwards are known as palindromes.


The shovel felt heavy in Stanley's soft, fleshy
hands. The boys at Camp Green Lake have been
told that if they find anything interesting or
unusual to report it to Mr. Pendanski or Mr. Sir. The
warden promised a day off if she likes what the
boys find. While digging his second hole, Stanley
finds a fish fossil. When he shows the fossil to Mr.
Pendanski, he tells Stanley that the fossil is not the
kind of thing the Warden finds interesting. Stanley
does not get the day off.
3.
Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?
A.
B.
The shovel felt heavy in Stanley's soft, fleshy hands.
The boys at Camp Green Lake have been told that if they
find anything interesting or unusual to report it to Mr.
Pendanski or Mr. Sir.
C. When he shows the fossil to Mr. Pendanski, he tells Stanley
that the fossil is not the kind of thing the Warden finds
interesting.
D. Stanley does not get the day off.
A. The shovel felt heavy in Stanley's soft, fleshy
hands.


Stanley finds a gold tube engraved with the initials "KB".
He gives the tube to X-Ray who decides to wait until the
next day to give it to the Warden. Although he is small and
cannot see well, X-Ray manages to take charge and have
the other boys follow his orders. Once the warden sees the
tube she takes control of the diggers and organizes a new
digging routine. Stanley realizes they are searching for
something specific but in the wrong place. Since the
campers are now digging in a different place from where
the tube was actually found, the warden is not likely to
find the missing treasure.
4.
Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?
A. Stanley finds a gold tube engraved with the initials "KB".
B. He gives the tube to X-Ray, who decides to wait until the
next day to give it to the Warden.
C. Although he is small and cannot see well, X-Ray manages to
take charge and have the other boys follow his orders.
D. Once the Warden sees the tube she takes control of
the diggers and organizes a new digging routine.
C. Although he is small and cannot see well, X-Ray
manages to take charge and have the other boys
follow his orders.


Stanley was walking home from school when a pair
of shoes fell on his head. Stanley takes the shoes
because he feels it is a sign. His father is working
on a way to recycle old sneakers. Old sneakers can
be turned into the spongy sport-court surface for
playgrounds. Stanley is arrested for stealing the
shoes which had been donated by baseball player
Clyde Livingston for a charitable auction. Stanley is
sentenced to 18 months at Camp Green Lake, a
youth correctional facility.
5.
Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?

A. Stanley was walking home from school when
a pair of shoes fell on his head.

B. Stanley takes the shoes because he feels it is
a sign.

C. is father is working on a way to recycle old
sneakers.

D. Old sneakers can be turned into the spongy
sport-court surface for playgrounds.
D.
Old sneakers can be turned
into the spongy sport-court
surface for playgrounds
When Stanley learns Zero is unable to read, he
and Zero come to an agreement. The inability
to read is a major problem for many
Americans. Zero will help dig Stanley's hole. In
return Stanley will give Zero reading lessons.
During these lessons they become friends.
6. Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?




A. When Stanley learns Zero is unable to read, he and
Zero come to an agreement.
B. The inability to read is a major problem for many
Americans.
C. In return Stanley will give Zero reading lessons.
D. During these lessons they become friends.
B. The inability to read is a
major problem for many
Americans.

Sam, the onion peddler, repairs the school's leaky
roof in exchange for Katherine's spiced peaches.
There are other problems with the schoolhouse
which are also repaired by Sam in exchange for
peaches. Peaches contain Vitamin C and Beta
Carotene. Eventually Sam runs out of things that
need to be fixed and is heartbroken.

7.
Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?
A. Sam, the onion peddler, repairs the school's leaky
roof in exchange for Katherine's spiced peaches.
B. There are other problems with the schoolhouse
which are also repaired by Sam in exchange for
peaches.
C. Peaches contain Vitamin C and Beta Carotene.
D. Eventually Sam runs out of things that need to be
fixed and is heartbroken.
C. Peaches contain Vitamin C and
Beta Carotene.


In Holes three stories from different times in history
are combined. As we read we learn of all three
stories while Stanley and Zero only know the small
bits and pieces that have been passed down to
them. Both boys are surprised that they know the
same song, yet they do not know the song was
passed down from their ancestors living in the same
town in Latvia. Latvia is a small country in eastern
Europe. The boys could have been aided further if
they had known Kate and Sam's story.
8.
Which sentence does not belong in the
paragraph?
A. In Holes three stories from different times in
history are combined.

B. As we read we learn of all three stories while
Stanley and Zero only know the small bits and
pieces that have been passed down to them.

C. Latvia is a small country in eastern Europe.

D. The boys could have been aided further if
they had known Kate and Sam's story.
C.
Latvia is a small country in
eastern Europe.


Louis Sachar establishes links between the past and the
present. Kate turns violent when the people of Green
Lake kill Sam. When Mr. Pendanski repeatedly taunts
Zero, he becomes violent. Camp Green Lake is dry, hard,
and hot. It is a physically unpleasant place to be, and the
people who live there lead unpleasant lives. After
learning that Sam uses onions to heal Becca Tennyson, we
find that Stanley is also using onions to heal Zero. We
know the yellow spotted lizard killed Kate Barlow. Will
lizards also be the end of Stanley or Zero?
9.
Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?
A. Kate turns violent when the people of Green Lake
kill Sam.
B. When Mr. Pendanski repeatedly taunts Zero, he
becomes violent.
C. Camp Green Lake is dry, hard, and hot.

D. After learning that Sam uses onions to heal Becca
Tennyson, we find that Stanley is also using onions to
heal Zero.
C. Camp Green Lake is dry, hard,
and hot.
The past and the present come together in an interesting way in
Holes. When Stanley and Zero reach God's thumb the reader
recognizes that this is Sam's onion patch where Sam claimed water
ran uphill. It is at this point in the story that we realize a parallel
between Stanley and Zero's lives and that of Elya Yelnats and
Madame Zeroni. Elya promised to carry Madame Zeroni up a
mountain to a place where a stream ran uphill and sing to her
about the wolf and the woodpecker. Stanley, unlike his great-great
grandfather, does just that with Zero. Stanley takes care of Zero
and sings to him. The song tells about a wolf who is hungry and
lonely howling at the moon. By doing this Stanley shows great
commitment and determination.
10. Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?
A. The past and the present come together in an interesting
way in Holes.
B. It is at this point in the story that we realize a parallel
between Stanley and Zero's lives and that of Elya Yelnats and
Madame Zeroni.
C. Stanley, unlike his great-great grandfather, does just that
with Zero.
D. The song tells about a wolf who is hungry and lonely howling
at the moon.
 D.
The song tells about a wolf who is hungry
and lonely howling at the moon.
Stick
to the point:
The ideas
have a clear and logical relation to each other.
Put
details or examples
or incidents in logical
order.
chronological
in relation to each other
in order of importance
4
3
2
1
Connecting Sentences
Within the Paragraph
Transition words
chronological order
first
meanwhile
later
afterwards
finally
objects in relation to
one another
in order of
importance
next to
however
in front of
furthermore
beside
as a result
between
in fact
behind
yet
 The

tells a story
 The

descriptive paragraph
describes something
 The

persuasive paragraph.
tries to convince the audience
 The

narrative paragraph
expository or explanatory paragraph
gives information or explains something
Sam repaired the leaky roof on the old schoolhouse.
During the week it took Sam to repair the roof, he
became friends with Miss Katherine, the school
teacher. She was surprised in Sam's love of poetry.
Meanwhile Sam took on other repair jobs at the
schoolhouse including repairing the windows, fixing
the wobbly desk, and hanging the door straight.
After each repair Sam was rewarded with jars of
spiced peaches. By the end of the first semester,
Sam had the schoolhouse looking new.

11. Which sequence best describes the order of
events in this passage?
1) Sam took on other repair jobs at the schoolhouse.
2) Miss Katherine and Sam became friends.
3) By the end of the first semester, Sam had the
schoolhouse looking new.
4) Sam repaired the leaky roof.

a) 4, 2, 3, 1
c) 3, 4, 1, 2

b) 3, 4, 2, 1
d) 4, 2, 1, 3
 d)
4, 2, 1, 3
First Charles "Trout" Walker led an angry group of townspeople to
the school house. Then he called Katherine Barlow a "Devil
Woman" for kissing Sam, the onion man. Immediately after
this Katherine ran to the sheriff for help, but he was drunk
tried to flirt with her instead of trying to help. Trout then
caught up to Katherine and Sam on his motorized boat.
Katherine was rescued against her wishes and Sam was shot.
Three days later Katherine shot the sheriff and kissed him,
giving her the name Kissin' Kate Barlow.
12. Which sequence best describes the order of events in
this passage?
1) Trout called Katherine a Devil Woman.
2) Katherine was rescued, and Sam was shot.
3) Trout Walker took the townspeople to the school house.
4) Kate killed the sheriff.
5) Katherine went to the sheriff for help.

a) 3, 1, 5, 2, 4
c) 3, 4, 1, 2, 5

b) 3, 4, 5, 2, 1
d) 3, 5, 4, 1, 2

 a)
3, 1, 5, 2, 4
After 20 years of being a bandit, Kate returned to
Green Lake. The place was a ghost town and the
lake had dried up. Trout and his wife, Linda Miller,
found Kate and demanded that she give them her
stolen treasure. Next Trout and Linda dragged Kate
all over the dried up lake in her bare feet
demanding she tell them were the loot was buried.
Suddenly Kate was bitten by a lizard. Her last
words were, "Start digging." Kate died laughing.

13. Which sequence best describes the order of
events in this passage?
1) Kate walks aimlessly barefooted across the dried up
lake.
2) Kate dies laughing.
3) Kate returned to Green Lake.
4) Trout and Linda demanded that Kate tell them were
she has buried the stolen money.
5) A lizard bites Kate.
 2)
Kate dies laughing.
Stanley ran away from Camp Green Lake. First he had
to walk across the hot desert. As soon as he
became dehydrated Stanley started seeing mirages
of pools of water. Stanley continued walking and
noticed a rock that looked like a thumb. Although
he wanted to stop, Stanley kept walking.
Eventually he spotted an upside down boat called
the Mary Lou. Stanley yelled, and someone yelled
back. Suddenly an arm with a orange sleeve came
out from under the boat and waved.

14. Which sequence best describes the order of
events in this passage?
1) Stanley began to see mirages.
2) Stanley saw God's Thumb.
3) Stanley walked towards an overturned boat.
4) An orange arm waved.
5) Stanley ran away.

a) 5, 1, 2, 4, 3
c) 5, 1, 2, 3, 4

b) 4, 5, 1, 3, 2
d) 5, 3, 4, 1, 2
 c)
5, 1, 2, 3, 4


1)
2)
3)
4)




When Stanley finds Zero, he doesn’t look well.
Zero has been living on sploosh under the boat for
days. Zero tells Stanley the sploosh tastes like
peaches. Zero says he won’t go back to camp or dig
any more holes. In the end Stanley shows Zero the
mountain that looks like God’s Thumb.
15. Which sequence best describes the order of
events in this passage?
Zero tells Stanley about the sploosh.
Stanley shows Zero God's Thumb.
Stanley finds Zero.
Zero says he will not return to Camp Green Lake.
a) 4, 2, 3, 1
b) 3, 1, 4, 2
c) 3, 4, 1, 2
d) 4, 2, 1, 3
 c)
3, 4, 1, 2
 In
logic and debate, an argument is a set of
statements based on persuasive
communication that includes a claim
 When analyzing an argument, you have to
determine which statement is the conclusion
and which ones are the premises
An argument, at its simplest, is a claim that is
supported by a premise.
 An argument consists of a premise (or several
premises) and a conclusion
 A premise is a statement that seems factual. It
can be a reason, an explanation, or a
justification
 A premise is a claim that supports another
claim.
 The conclusion of the argument is that with
which the speaker wants the listener to agree.
 The main claim, or conclusion of the argument,
will be the answer to the issue question

EXAMPLE:
 Doctors earn a lot of money. (premise)
 I want to earn a lot of money. (premise)
 I should become a doctor. (conclusion)
 Claim:
a statement or opinion that is either
true or false
 Argument: a claim supported by premises
 Conclusion: the main claim in an argument
 Premises: claims that support an argument’s
conclusion
Claim: an assertion about the truth,
existence, or value of something that is
either true or false
 ❖ Claims are also called Statements or
Propositions
 ❖ When supported by a premises, a claim
becomes a conclusion

○ This class is easy.
 ○ The Detroit Lions have the potential to make the
NFL playoffs.
 ○ This chemical structure is unstable.
 ○ Democratic socialism is superior to a pure
democracy.

 Argument:
an assertion that contains BOTH a
conclusion and premises



○ Not all statements are arguments
○ A statement of fact or opinion based on
evidence
○ Some statements contain multiple arguments
 Look
at this video
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq8-
w2BAJkU




Find the conclusion (main claim) first. Learn the key words
that are likely to be used in a conclusion. Key words
include "therefore," "for that reason," "thus," "so," "for,"
"then," "consequently," "as a result" and "accordingly.“
Look for sentences that offer evidence, anecdotes,
explanations, supporting arguments and quotations from
authorities to support the conclusion.
Premises are reasons given to support a conclusion, and
they can be identified by key terms that include "according
to," "considering," "by," "if," "given that," "in fact," "for,"
"since," "because" and "after all."
Premises are statements of (assumed) fact which are
supposed to set forth the reasons and/or evidence for
believing a claim. The claim, in turn, is the conclusion:

Vending machines stocked with soda or
candy should be removed from all public
schools.

NOT AN ARGUMENT. It offers no support
 Star

Wars is the best movie ever.
○ NOT AN ARGUMENT. It offers no support
 We’d
better leave now. If we don’t, we
might miss the last train and we’ll be stuck
here all night.

○ THIS IS AN ARGUMENT. It offers support
(premises) to support the claim.
 Watch
the video on how to find the premise
and conclusion
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07mehb
gE5jc
Premise: A reason offered as support, or
evidence, for another claim.
 These are often indicated by the words:










○ Because
○ As shown by
○ For
○ Given that
○ As
○ As indicated by
○ Since
○ The reason is that
○ Inasmuch as
 Today's
freshmen cannot write very well. Joe
is a freshman, so he must be a poor writer.
 Premise
Today's freshmen cannot write very
well
 Premise Joe is a freshman,
 Conclusion so he must be a poor writer
 Abortion
sacred.
is wrong because all human life is
❖ Abortion is wrong.
 It’s flu season and you work with kids, so you
should get a flu shot.
❖ You should get a flu shot.
 We
should believe that rocks exist because
we are able to see them.
❖ Rocks Exist
John will probably receive the next
promotion since he’ s been here the longest
❖ John will receive the next promotion
 We must reduce the amount of money we
spend on space exploration. Right now, the
enemy is launching a massive military
buildup, and we need the additional money
to purchase military equipment to help
match the anticipated increase in the
enemy’s strength


❖ We must reduce the amount of money we
spend on space exploration.
 It’s
a beautiful day. We should go to
the park. Besides, I need some
exercise.
 We
should go to the park.
 That
movie has had horrible reviews.
My sister saw it and said it was boring
and her friend spotted three mistakes.
Pick a different movie. I am sure we
can find something better.
 We
should pick a different movie.
Rewrite the argument in standard form
● Step 1: Identify which claim is the conclusion.
● Step 2: Identify which claims are premises supporting
conclusion
Standard Form
1
Premise 1
2
Premise 2
Conclusion
All black dogs are warm-blooded because they
are mammals, and all mammals are warmblooded
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
Conclusion:
All black dogs are warm-blooded because they
are mammals, and all mammals are warmblooded
“because” = indicates a Premise
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Black dogs are mammals
Premise 2:
All mammals are warm-blooded
Conclusion:
All black dogs are warm-blooded
He must be a good basketball player. After all,
he’s tall, and all tall people are good basketball
players.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
Conclusion:
He must be a good basketball player. After
all, he’s tall, and all tall people are good
basketball players.
“After all” = indicates a Premise
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
He’s tall
All tall people are good basketball
players
Conclusion: He must be a good basketball player
The weather report is calling for blizzard
conditions. Driving could be hazardous. Stay
here tonight and you can head back to college
after the road is plowed tomorrow.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
Conclusion:
Start on your homework now. You will
get done earlier and still have time to
watch the movie with us. It shouldn’t
take too long and your father can help
you if you need it.
Standard Form
If all employers require their employees to
take a flu shot, then less people would take
sick days. This would result in increased
productivity for the nation as a whole.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
Conclusion:
If all employers require their employees to take a
flu shot, then less people would take sick days.
This would result in increased productivity for
the nation as a whole.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
If all employers require their employees to
take a flu shot, then less people would take
sick days
Premise 2:
What is the implied premise?
Conclusion: The flu shot would increase productivity for
the nation as a whole.
If all employers require their employees to take a
flu shot, then less people would take sick days.
This would result in increased productivity for
the nation as a whole.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
If all employers require their employees to
take a flu shot, then less people would take
sick days
Premise 2: Less people taking sick days would increase
productivity for the nation
Conclusion: The flu shot would increase productivity for
the nation as a whole.
Less than one percent of the people
receiving parking tickets appeal those
tickets. Therefore, one cannot claim that
the Parking officers are issuing
unwarranted citations.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Premise 2:
Conclusion:
Less than one percent of the people
receiving parking tickets appeal those
tickets. Therefore, one cannot claim that
the Parking officers are issuing
unwarranted citations.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Less than one percent of the people
receiving parking tickets appeal those
tickets.
Premise 2:
What is the implied premise?
Conclusion:
one cannot claim that the Parking officers
are issuing unwarranted citations.
Less than one percent of the people
receiving parking tickets appeal those
tickets. Therefore, one cannot claim that
the Parking officers are issuing
unwarranted citations.
Standard Form
Premise 1:
Less than one percent of the people
receiving parking tickets appeal those
tickets.
Premise 2:
People appeal unwarranted citations
Conclusion:
one cannot claim that the Parking officers
are issuing unwarranted citations.
 An
argument from
false premises is a line
of reasoning which can
lead to wrong results
 A false premise is an
untrue statement that
forms the basis of an
argument
 Since the premise
(proposition, or
assumption) is not
correct, the conclusion
drawn may be in error.
 If
the streets are
wet, it has rained
recently. (premise)
 The streets are
wet. (premise)
 Therefore it has
rained recently.
(conclusion)

"An old cowboy goes into a
restaurant and orders a
food and something to
drink. As he sits there
sipping his drink, a young
lady sits down next to
him. ... She says, 'I'm
a cook. I spend my whole
day thinking about food.
...' A little while later, a
couple sits down next to
the old cowboy and asks
him, 'Are you a real
cowboy?' He replies, 'I
always thought I was, but I
just found out I'm a cook'

The mistake the cowboy
makes is that he assumes
that the definition of a
cook is somebody who
spends the "whole day
thinking about food.”
1. The president of the United States must be 60
years of age or older.
George W. Bush must be 60 years of age or older.
So, George W. Bush is president of the United
States
 2. Mickey mouse is a cat
All cats have 7 legs
so Mickey mouse has 7 legs
 3. Identical twins sometimes have different IQ
test scores. Yet these twins inherit exactly the
same genes. So environment must play some
part in determining a person's IQ.
