Toolkit Test #2

If/then inferences

Standards

In following the traits given, an inference should follow as an educated guess. Due to the uncertain nature of guesses, the inference should remain realistic with a clear line of reasoning. A far-fetched inference would be harder to convince of its realism. To back a clear line of reasoning, the inference should also have realistic examples or facts. Inferences backed by false information have a high probability of being false as well.

Quote

“I remembered being taken aback by many of the things he would teach us about the environment and how it was being destroyed. I thought he’d be the perfect person to talk to.”

Paraphrase

To gain insight on potential sustainable alternatives to implement on the UNF campus, the author reached out to who they believed was the most knowledgeable person in this subject. The author inferred that the professor, Dr. Welling, would be the best person to gain insight from as they had introduced lots of new information to the author, despite the subject being popular to the point of common knowledge.

Evaluation of how closely it follows standards

Following the author’s thought process of searching for the best person in creating sustainable solutions on campus, the author sets the notion that a person who has demonstrated their knowledgeability in the subject would be the most fitting, a noted conventional line of reasoning. In teaching the author new information on sustainability, a popular subject that most people have a degree of understanding in, the author inferred that the professor would be the best person to meet with, a realistic conclusion. The combination of having a clear line of reasoning with a realistic conclusion shows that the inference is of a higher quality.

The truth

Standards

A true statement must be correct under all conditions in the physical world. An indication of a true statement is one that is agreed upon by the general population as a fact. The statement should also have methods of verification, such as looking at outside sources or measurement.

Quote:

“The most common buses are diesel buses, which can cost around $500,000.”

Paraphrase

In concern for the mass amounts of gas consumption on the UNF campus, the author researches more on sustainable alternatives to the biggest contributors; the buses. The author researches on the different types of buses and finds that diesel buses are the most common type, averaging at about $500,000.

Evaluation of how closely it follows standards

This statement can be considered as the truth, as it pulls factual information from research and creates a claim that can be considered true from the general public, with verification of personal research. Statistically, diesel buses are the most common bus, and an average of $500,000 is a conventional estimate that was created from the author’s research.

Examples and other forms of evidence

Examples and other forms of evidence are used to support or clarify a claim that the author has made. To be higher quality, any form of evidence must provide a realistic situation or factual information to support with relevance. Evidence should provide more detail that further explains the author’s view on their claim so that the audience can understand to a fuller degree.

Quote

“Abandoned plastic bottles from vending machines, plastic wrappers that conceal the plastic forks inside of them, straws, Panda Express bowls and the inevitable lost student ID card.”

Paraphrase

To back the claim that the UNF campus has lots of plastic waste, the author provides several observable examples in familiar locations for the students, such as the plastic bowls from the local Panda Express, or the abandoned plastic water bottles next to vending machines, which are a common sight around campus.

Evaluation of how closely it follows standards

This example provides several observable instances that are factual, and can be verified by outside sources. Any student can walk outside and observe the plastic bowls from Panda Express, or the occasional lost student ID card on the sidewalks. These examples work together to support the claim that there is lots of plastic waste on campus, and clarify what the author defines as plastic waste. As the criteria is met, this example demonstrates that it is of a higher quality.

Counter Examples

Standards

A counter example holds the purpose of following the criteria set by an author’s claim, but disproving the following inference made. A counter example only has to disprove that the inference is always correct, meaning that the example can show that the claim is sometimes correct, or not correct at all. Similar to a regular example, a counter example should be realistic if it’s theoretical, or use factual evidence that already has been proven.

Quote

“Despite the transportation system at UNF being decent, there are still students who do not use them. These students are often seen walking long distances from the parking lots to their classes.”

Paraphrase

The author acknowledges the high amounts of gas consumption coming from the campus buses, but provides a counter example that despite their prominence, students do not use the bus often enough to level costs. The students are often seen walking long distances rather than taking the bus, introducing an example of a further pressing matter of the air conditioning, which consumes high amounts of energy as well.

Evaluation of how closely it follows standards

In acknowledging that the students do not use the bus enough to warrant the costs of switching to hybrid or electric buses, the author demonstrates a limit to how useful this sustainable alternative would be to the campus. While the statement of the buses consuming the largest amounts of gas is still true, the inference that the electric buses would be a worthy investment is deemed not true, as shown by the many students that would rather walk across parking lots on a hot day instead of riding the bus. This counter example is of a greater quality, as it meets the criteria and effectively demonstrates a limit to the alternative of switching to less gas-consuming buses.