- Read the assigned sections of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 in your textbook:
- 5.1: Basic Concepts in Inductive Reasoning
- 5.2: Statistical Arguments: Statistical Syllogisms
- 5.3: Statistical Arguments: Inductive Generalizations
- 5.6: Arguments from Authority
- 5.7: Arguments from Analogy
- Chapter 5 Summary
- 6.4: Reasoning About Science: The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
- 6.5: Inference to the Best Explanation
- Watch the videos:
- What Is a “STRONG” argument
- What Is an Inductive Argument
- Inductive Reasoning
- Inference to the Best Explanation
- Write a paper that includes the following:
Introduction (approximately 100 words)- Explain your topic and state the specific question that you are addressing.
- Presentation of an Argument (approximately 200 words)
- Describe the scholarly source on one side of the issue.
- Present what you see as the main argument from that source (present the argument in standard form, with the premises listed above the conclusion).
- Evaluation of the quality of the reasoning in this source (approximately 200 words)
You may address questions such as the following:- How adequately does the article support the premises of the argument?
- How strongly do the premises of the argument support the truth of the conclusion?
- What (if any) missing premises would be needed to complete the argument (make it valid/strong)? Are these missing premises justified or merely assumptions?
- Presentation of an Opposing Argument (approximately 200 words)
- Describe the scholarly source on the other side of the issue.
- Present what you see as the main argument from that source in standard form, with the premises listed above the conclusion.
- Evaluation of the quality of the reasoning in this source (approximately 200 words)
You may address questions such as the following:- How adequately does the article support the premises of the argument?
- How strongly do the premises of the argument support the truth of the conclusion?
- What (if any) missing premises would be needed to complete the argument (make it valid/strong)? Are these missing premises justified or merely assumptions?
- Evaluation of Arguments in Non-Scholarly and Scholarly Sources (approximately 100 words)
- Discuss the differences in the quality of the reasoning or in the degree of support for premises in these scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources.
- If you need support, review the Scholarly and Popular Resources (1)
- Discuss the differences in the quality of the reasoning or in the degree of support for premises in these scholarly sources contrasted with non-scholarly sources.
