Logic in Argumentative Writing - Principles of Composition

We use logic every day to figure out test questions, plan our budgets, and decide who to date. We
borrow from the vocabulary of logic when we say, "Brilliant deduction" or even "I don't want to
argue about it." In the study of logic, however, each of these terms has a specific definition, and
we must be clear on these if we are to communicate.

Proposition --Can be a premise or conclusion.

Premise --Proposition used as evidence in an argument.
Conclusion --Proposition used as a thesis in an argument.
Argument --A group of propositions of which one is claimed to follow from the others.
Induction --A process through which the premises provide some basis for the conclusion
Deduction --A process through which the premises provide conclusive proof for the conclusion.

Argument Indicators: should, must, ought to, necessarily

Premise Indicators: since, because, for, as, inasmuch as, for the reason that, firstly ...
Conclusion Indicators: therefore, hence, thus, so, consequently, it follows that, one may
infer/conclude

When dealing with persuasive writing, it will be helpful for you to outline the argument by
premises and conclusions. By looking at the structure of the argument, it is easy to spot logical
error.

"Universities are full of knowledge. The freshmen bring a little in, and the seniors take none
away, and knowledge accumulates. -- Harvard President A. L. Lowell

Premise 1: Freshmen bring a little (knowledge) in

Premise 2: Seniors take none away
Premise 3: Knowledge accumulates
Conclusion: Universities are full of knowledge

(Below, the conclusion of one argument is used as a premise in another. This is very common.)
Even though there may be a deceiver of some sort, very powerful and very tricky, who bends all
his efforts to keep me perpetually deceived, there can be no slightest doubt that I exist, since he
deceives me; and let him deceive me as much as he will, he can never make me be nothing as long
as I think I am something. Thus, after having thought well on this matter, and after examining all
things with care, I must finally conclude and maintain that this proposition: I am, I exist, is
necessarily true every time that I pronounce it or conceive it in my mind. -- Rene Descartes,
Meditations.

Argument 1 Premise 1: To be deceived ... I must exist

Conclusion of Argument 1& Argument 2 Premise 1: When I think that I exist I cannot be deceived
about that
Conclusion: I am, I exist, is necessarily true...
Reaching Logical Conclusions
Consider the two statements:
1. Any member of a varsity squad is excused from physical education.
2. Henry is a member of the varsity football squad.
Our common sense tells us that if we accept these two statements as true, then we must accept
the following third statement as true:
3. Henry is excused from physical education.
We say that the third statement follows logically from the other two.

In drawing logical conclusions it does not matter whether the statements we accept as true
are reasonable or sensible. This is because we depend entirely upon the form of the statements
and not upon what we are talking about. Thus, if we accept the following statements as true:
1. All whales are mammals;
2. All mammals are warm-blooded animals;
3. All warm-blooded animals are subject to colds; then we must conclude that; 4. All whales are
subject to colds.
Do you see that statements 1, 2, and 3 are arranged in logical order?
If you have read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass , you know that
their author, Lewis Carroll, delighted in giving sets of nonsense statements which lead to logical
conclusions. One such set is the following:
Babies are illogical; nobody is despised who can manage a crocodile;
Illogical persons are despised.
When these statements are arranged in logical order we have:
1. Babies are illogical;
2. Illogical persons are despised;
3. Nobody is despised who can manage a crocodile. From these we can draw the logical
conclusion:
4. Babies cannot manage crocodiles.