08 Oct The Nature of Arguments

Strategies for Decision Making

The Nature of Arguments

 

Critical thinking makes use of arguments. In this week’s lesson, you gained an overview of what arguments are and what it means for something to be a good or bad argument. In your week one assignment, you will be writing a five paragraph essay in which you explain and illustrate the nature of the critical thinking process.

 

Paragraph one should answer the following questions:

 

·         What is an argument?

 

·         What are some indicators of an argument?

 

·         What is an example of an argument?

 

Your example does not have to be detailed. It can be a single sentence or two. It can be informal – there’s no need to make a premise-by-premise argument. Make sure your argument contains a rational inference, otherwise it isn’t an argument.

 

Paragraph two should explain the meaning of cogent reasoning. In this paragraph, be sure to reference the three criteria for cogent reasoning.

 

Paragraph three should explain the difference between deductive valid and inductively strong arguments.

 

Paragraph four should explain the role of background beliefs, worldviews, and philosophies to the critical thinking process. Be sure to give examples of what some background beliefs might be.

 

Finally, in paragraph five, write about a time in which you used a rational argument to persuade someone. What was the argument about? What evidence did you utilize in order to make your case? 

 

Your completed assignment should be written primarily in first person and should be 500-750 words in length. If you use sources in your writing, be sure to identify them. If you use any direct language from a source, be sure to place those words in quotation marks.

 

Your assignment should adhere to the stated page length requirement for the week and use APA style formatting including a title page and reference section. APA resources and a template are available in the Supplemental Materials folder.

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 2 Assignment  

 

Constructing Deductive and Inductive Arguments

 

Arguments consist of premises and conclusions. Premises are structured so as to lend support to conclusions. The kind of support that a premise lends to a conclusion allows us to distinguish between deductive and inductive arguments. This week, you will be constructing both kinds of arguments.

 

1.    In three premises each, construct one example of each following deductive argument form:

 

·         Modus ponens

 

·         Modus tollens

 

·         Hypothetical syllogism

 

·         Disjunctive syllogism

 

Make sure your arguments are deductively valid and that your examples are your own. Here are two examples of the general format that your arguments should take:

 

Modus ponens:

 

1.    If it is raining, then it is pouring.

 

2.    It is raining.

 

3.    Therefore, it is pouring.

 

Modus tollens:

 

1.    If Jack went to the grocery store, then he bought cookies.

 

2.    Jack did not buy cookies.

 

3.    Therefore, Jack did not go to the grocery store.

 

2.    After you construct the preceding deductive argument forms, construct a three premise syllogism. For example:

 

1.    All men are mortal.

 

2.    Socrates is a man.

 

3.    Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

 

3.    After you construct a three premise syllogism, construct one of each of the following inductive argument patterns:

 

·         Induction by enumeration

 

·         Reasoning by analogy

 

·         Statistical induction

 

·         Higher-level induction

 

Your examples of inductive argument patterns should not be expressed in premise form. Rather, they should be informally expressed in writing. You should have one paragraph for each pattern. Be as detailed as possible.

 

Finally, please remember to label your arguments. This makes it easier for them to be graded. Include your name, course section, and the date at the top of your assignment document

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 3 Assignment  

 

The Hierarchy of Value

 

The most basic moral obligation that we have is to pursue what is good and avoid what is evil. But what counts as “good” and “evil”? How do we rank the various things that are good or evil? Friendship is a good thing, but is more important than (say) honesty? Cheating is generally a bad thing, but is it worse than (say) hypocrisy?

 

This assignment will require a bit of thinking. You will attempt to rank moral values and vices on a hierarchy.

 

·         Begin by listing the top five moral values or obligations that you think are definitive of a life well-lived.

 

·         For each value or obligation, give a (minimum) one-paragraph description of what it is and why you have ranked it that way.

 

·         You should not simply give a list – you should explain and justify the hierarchy you have put together. Make sure you organize them by order of importance. If you’re not quite confident in your ranking, give it your best attempt.

 

You will then do the same thing for moral vices.

 

·         In order of heinousness, list five vices that you consider to be among the worst.

 

·         Make sure that you include at least a one-paragraph description of each vice along with an explanation of why you have ranked that vice in the way you did.

 

·         Make sure that you are specific. Do not simply say “be good” or “avoid harming people” – you should be referencing specific virtues or vices.

 

The goal of this assignment is to organize your thoughts on morality. Not all good things are equally good, and not all bad things are equally bad. We often prioritize certain things when making moral decisions, so it is good to develop a framework for a hierarchy of virtues and vices.

 

As a tip, you might look at some of the lists of virtues and vices that have been assembled by philosophers and theologians throughout history. Two examples are the four cardinal virtues and Dante’s seven deadly vices. But avoid copying them – this assignment should be your own work and reflect your own thinking.

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 4 Assignment  

 

Evaluating Arguments

 

Below is a series of five fallacious arguments. In one paragraph each, explain why each argument is fallacious and identify the fallacy being committed. In identifying the relevant fallacy, be sure to give an explanation of what that fallacy is. Be comprehensive in your explanations, and cite at least one source to support each explanation (in APA format).

 

Argument 1

 

1.    My algebra class is a nightmare.

 

2.    Nightmares are bad dreams.

 

3.    Therefore, my algebra class is a bad dream.

 

Argument 2

 

We can trust the Andrew’s testimony because Andrew himself said so, and Andrew is a trustworthy person.

 

Argument 3

 

If we loosen the office dress code, soon everyone will start showing up naked! Therefore, we shouldn’t loosen the office dress code.

 

Argument 4

 

Nobody has disproven that there exists alien life. So, until proven otherwise, it’s reasonable to conclude that alien life does exist.

 

Argument 5

 

You shouldn’t vote Republican because Republicans hate the poor, and you shouldn’t vote Democrat because Democrats hate business owners.

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 5 Assignment  

 

Misleading Statistics

 

Statistics are powerful and convincing when used properly. This feature of statistical reasoning, however, also makes them liable to misuse. In this week’s assignment, you will find a legitimate statistic and explain how it might be used to mislead an audience.

 

·         Start by searching the internet for a reliable statistic. Make sure the statistic you find comes from an original or primary source – whether it be a peer-reviewed article, think-tank, or other organization. Do not use news articles that report the findings of a study; use the original study itself. Please remember to cite your source.

 

·         After you locate your statistic, explain how it might be used to mislead an audience into embracing conclusions that the statistic does not support by playing the role of someone who is trying to lie with statistics.

 

·         Design a fake advertisement or news story in which you will try to use the statistic in question to make a persuasive point.

 

o   Your advertisement or story can consist of a written document, graphic, or video.

 

o   Whatever you decide to do, you should feature a depiction or description of the statistic and an explanation of how it might be used to support a misleading agenda.

 

·         After creating your fake advertisement or news story, include a short one paragraph statement on why it is misleading and what can be done to avoid being misled by it.

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 6 Assignment  

 

Overcoming Cognitive Biases

 

It is easy to be taken in by cognitive biases, especially given that they operate at a subconscious or non-rational level. It is therefore important that we be aware of them. Accordingly, this week’s assignment will be a poster project in which you design warning posters. You will be creating three warning posters for three different cognitive biases. A warning poster might look something like this:

 

Here is a direct link to the image.

 

Begin by selecting three cognitive biases covered in this week’s reading or lectures. Using an online tool or application such as Microsoft Word, create three warning posters that explain the dangers behind the three cognitive biases you have selected. Each warning poster should contain the name of the cognitive bias, a very brief explanation of what it is, a message on how to avoid falling into it, and at least one image. All three posters should be different.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 7 Assignment  

 

Analyzing the News

 

News reporting is done by journalists, who are charged with the important responsibility of curating information in ways that are fair and honest.

 

This week you will assume the role of a news editor or executive. Using the knowledge gained from this week’s readings and lectures, write a mock job posting for a journalist. Your job posting should include:

 

·         A description of what the journalist will do (feel free to be creative, given that there are many different kinds of journalists)

 

·         A list of qualities necessary for being a good journalist

 

·         A list of expectations that the journalist will fulfill. Make sure to include required skills that address reliability and validity in reporting.

 

Make your mock job posting look as realistic as possible. If you are unsure about how to write a job posting, look for examples online.

 

View your assignment rubric.

 

 

 

HU260 Strategies for Decision Making

 

Week 8 Assignment  

 

Civility on the Internet

 

The internet offers anonymity, and anonymity changes the way in which we present ourselves. Many individuals, acting behind the veil of a screen, say things and do things that they would otherwise not do in a face-to-face environment. This has led to an online phenomenon known as “trolling,” wherein individuals deliberately act to incite anger or resentment. Add to this the ways in which online discussions can get heated very quickly, and it is clear that civility is becoming a lost art.

 

You will be writing a five-paragraph essay in which you explain the nature of civility, why it is important in an online setting, and what can be done to recover civility in the context of news media and cyber-culture.

 

1.    Your first paragraph should contain a definition of civility and an explanation of what it means to be civil.

 

2.    Your second paragraph should contain an explanation of what it means to be civil in an online setting. Why do we need civility online? Why do you think the internet tends to foster incivility?

 

3.    Your third paragraph should contain a discussion of what can be done to recover civility. How can we promote civility online? What are some ways in which we avoid heated discussions and debates?

 

4.    Your fourth paragraph should apply what you have said about civility to a specific contentious issue in today’s culture (e.g. healthcare, gun control, capital punishment, abortion, war, economic policy). What does it mean to have a civil discussion about said issue? How can being civil advance our understanding of this issue?

 

5.    Your final paragraph will summarize what you have said and make concluding remarks about civility going forward. What advice would you give to internet users about developing and maintaining a sense of civility in the way they approach online interactions?

 

Your completed assignment should be approximately 1000 words. Submit your paper, written in APA style, including a title page, reference page, and appropriate citations, to the dropbox for grading.

 

View your assignment rubric.