Lang Quiz 4

Argument

Argument

piece of reasoning with one or more premises and a conclusion.

Premises

Statements offered as reasons to support a conclusion

Conclusion

the end result of the argument

Aristotle’s appeals

The goal of argumentative writing is to persuade an audience that one’s ideas are valid, or more valid than someone else's.

Ethos

means being convinced by the credibility of the author.

Pathos (emotional)

means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions.

Logos (logical)

means persuading by the use of reasoning, using true premises and valid arguments.

Concession

Accepting at least part or all of an opposing viewpoint.

Conditional Statement

an if-then statement and consists of two parts, an antecedent and a consequent.

Contradiction

when one asserts two mutually exclusive propositions

Counterexample

is an example that runs counter to (opposes) a generalization, thus falsifying it.

Deductive argument

An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion.

Fallacy

an attractive but unreliable piece of reasoning.

Ad hominem

Personally attacking your opponents instead of their arguments. It is an argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason, feeling rather than intellect.

Appeal to authority (fallacy)

The claim that because somebody famous supports an idea, the idea must be right. This fallacy is often used in advertising.

Appeal to the bandwagon:

The claim, as evidence for an idea, that many people believe it, or used to believe it, or do it.

Appeal to emotion (fallacy)

An attempt to replace a logical argument with an appeal to the audience’s emotions.

Bad analogy:

Claiming that two situations are highly similar, when they aren't.

Cliche thinking:

Using as evidence a well-known saying, as if it is proven, or as if it has no exceptions.

False cause:

Assuming that because two things happened, the first one caused the second one.

Hasty generalization:

A generalization based on too little or unrepresentative data.

Non Sequitur:

A conclusion that does not follow from its premises; an invalid argument.

Slippery slope:

The assumption that once started, a situation will continue to its most extreme possible outcome.

Inductive argument

An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion.

Sound argument

that the line of reasoning from the premises to the conclusion is valid. Second, that the premises are true.

Unstated premises

Not every argument is fully expressed. Sometimes premises or even conclusions are left unexpressed.

Valid argument

if the conclusion logically follows from the premises.