AICE Thinking Skills Paper 2 Study Guide

Main Conclusion

The main claim, what the author is arguing for. Must be supported by reasons and evidence. Some words that can help you identify conclusions are if these words come before it: therefore, so, consequently, etc;

Intermediate Conclusion

Another conclusion which then leads on to a main for final conclusion. Made from one or more supporting reasons that form sub-arguments. There may be two or more sub-arguments within the larger argument.

Reasons

Lead to the conclusion; needed to support an argument/conclusion

Reliability

Trustworthy and unmotivated to falsify evidence

Credibility

objective and subjective components of the believability of a source

Irrelevance

Lack of connection between evidence and the conclusion that it is intended to support

Assumptions

An assumption is a claim or belief that is accept as true, even if it hasn't been proven or justified aka presumption.

Stated:

Unstated:

Evidence

everything that is used to determine the truth of a claim

Anecdotal evidence

just one story (of an unusual circumstance) *EX: My grandfather smoked like a chimney and died healthy in a car crash at the age of 99."*

Counter-assertion

If the writer presents a reason that would support an opponent's argument, rather than a counter-argument, then the writer is making a counter-assertion/ claim.

Arguments

reason(s) supporting a conclusion for or against a point of view

Explanations

a reason or justification given for an action or belief.

Circumstantial evidence

highly suggests the truth it's indirect evidence: it points to it, but it might not be true

Fallacies/Flaws

any various types of erroneous reasoning that render arguments logically UNSOUND.

Argumentum ad antiquities

saying something is good or right because its old or has always been that way

Argumentum ad crumenam

saying money means correctness and those with more money are more correct

Argumentum ad hominem

attacking the person

Argumentum ad ignorantiam

true because it hasn't been proven false or false because it hasn't been proven true

Argumentum ad Lazarum

saying someone who is poor is more virtuous than someone who is rich

Argumentum ad nauseam

saying something is more likely to be true because it is said repeatedly

Argumentum ad populum

appealing to a large group of people

Argumentum ad verecundiam

using a famous person for support

Bifurcation

having only 2 options when there could be more

Complex question/interrogation/presupposition

begging the question ***Ex: "Have you stopped beating your wife?" This implies that he was, at some point, beating his wife, when he might not have been at all.

Hasty generalization

using only a few cases to make an assertion **Ex: "Blondes are dumb. She's blonde. She must be dumb." When she definitely might not be!!!

Converting a conditional

if A is B, then B is A

Sweeping generalization/Dicto simpliciter/accident

a particular situation applies to everyone Just like hasty generalization but applies to a bigger group of people EX: Christians generally dislike atheists. You are a christian, so you must dislike atheists.

No true Scotsman Fallacy

disregarding a contradiction because it is not true. changing your argument

Non sequitur

premises dont logically connect to conclusion DOESNT MAKE SENSE AT ALL

Plurium interrogationum

demanding a simple answer to a complex question. *yes/no?*

Red Herring

irrelevant material to distract DISTRACTION

Slippery slope argument/domino fallacy

should one event occur, so will other harmful events; NO PROOF THAT THE HARMFUL EVENTS ARE CAUSED BY THE FIRST EVENT

Straw man fallacy

misrepresent someone else's position *Ex: "Sunny days are good" "If every day were sunny, we wouldn't have rain, and without rain, we'd have famine and death!"*

Tu quoque

"you too!" meaning you can do it because your opposition did it Think: tu means you in spanish.