Running Head: Class Exercise

Class Exercise

1
Running Head: Class Exercise

Table of Contents

1. Answer to Question 1..................................................................................................................3

2. Answer to Question 2..................................................................................................................4

References........................................................................................................................................7

2
Running Head: Class Exercise

1. Answer to Question 1

An Argument is defined as a coherent series of facts, reasons, or statements intended to

endorse or establish someone's perspective. Essentially, an argument takes place when a reason

is provided for or against a matter that is being discussed (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Arguments

are divided into two classifications including simple and extended arguments. According to the

notes in Chapter 4, a simple argument has only one conclusion endorsed by one or multiple

premises. Fundamentally, simple arguments can be classified as propositions having a contention

with a sole reason for or objection to it. To exemplify, if one says that ‘consuming coca-cola is

not good for health since it can cause cardiovascular conditions’ – they are using ‘consuming

coca-cola is not good for health (C)’ as the conclusion for the argument whereas ‘since it can

cause cardiovascular conditions (P1)’ is used as a premise. The argument could have another

premise by adding ‘and it contains a lot of sugar (P2)’ after P1. In that case, two of the premises

would become connecting links that can allow one to support the conclusion. However, it must

be noted that simple arguments can also be without correlating two or more premises presented

to support the conclusion.

An extended argument, on the other hand, occurs when one premise receives support

from another premise making it a proposition from which the main argument can be inferred.

Extended arguments are also characterized as being the conclusion to sub-arguments. An

example is provided below to explain the nature of extended arguments:

“We need to purchase all items that will save us from suffering in this trip (1). If we do

not bring camping supplies and a tent, we will suffer on the trip (2). So, it is necessary that we

buy camping suppliers, and it is also necessary that we buy a tent (3).”

3
Running Head: Class Exercise

In the above example, both 1 and 2 act as premises for the speaker to support the

conclusion. However, 2 also indicated a concluding thought (“we will suffer on the trip” may be

referred to as a sub-conclusion hence) after providing the inference indicator. Based on the

premises, the speaker formed the main conclusion (3) which was that they needed to buy

camping supplies and a tent. The first premise established that without purchasing all necessary

items, the speaker may face hardships in the trip whereas the second premise established what

the necessary items were. Finally, the conclusion made the argument coherent and established

that to ensure that the speaker did not suffer in the trip, they needed to buy camping suppliers

and a tent.

2. Answer to Question 2

Inference indicators refer to the expressions that are placed before reaching a premise or

conclusion in an argument and signify the logical relationships between the premise(s) and

conclusion(s) made to help determine an argument (Govier, 2019). In the 1st argument, the use of

inference indicators is not evident either before the premise(s) or the conclusion(s). In the 2nd

argument, the placement of 'for' at the beginning of the first sentence indicates it being an

inference indicator for a conclusion. In the third sentence of the 2nd argument, so is used to make

the conclusion and hence, can be referred to as being an inference indicator for a conclusion. In

the 3rd argument, the placement of because at the beginning of the first part of the sentence

makes it an inference indicator for the premise.

A premise of an argument refers to the statement or statements that support the

conclusion. Noise, in an argument, is not a part of the argument diagram and is non-integral to

evaluate the strength of the argument (Critical Thinking Academy, n.d.). In the first argument,

three premises can be identified, and these include, i) “there are half the number of commercials”

4
Running Head: Class Exercise

(P1), ii) “no pro-war or anti-war bias” (P2), and iii) “a fearlessness no longer seen at the other

networks” (P3). The conclusion is the first sentence which is “Al Jazeera [Television] is a breath

of fresh air” (C). The third sentence of the first argument can be identified as the noise as it does

not add any support to reach the conclusion or the premises.

P1 P2 P3

C
For the second argument, the noises include “for once” and “but”. The premises include

i) Whoever did this is very strong (P1), ii) Jane is weak (P2), and iii) it could only have been

Jane or Preet (P3). The sub-conclusions include i) there is no mystery to who committed the

crime (C1), ii) so we can rule her out (C2), and iii) thus, Preet must be the guilty party (MC).

P1 P2
P3

C1 C2

MC

For the third argument, the noise is “besides”. The premises include i) because the

hospital has been in debt for over a decade (P1), ii) all debt-ridden public institutions should be

closed (P2), iii) the technology in the operating rooms is outdated (P3). The conclusion is written

in the form of “this hospital should be closed” (C). The first two premises of these arguments are

interconnected and co-jointly support the conclusion whereas the third premise stands

individually but supports the conclusion as well. Hence, the argument can be referred to as a

strong one.

5
Running Head: Class Exercise

P1 P2
P3

6
Running Head: Class Exercise

References

Critical Thinking Academy. 4. Identifying Premises and Conclusions. Retrieved 9 November

2021, from https://criticalthinkeracademy.com/courses/76303/lectures/1105047

Govier, T. (2019). Problems in argument analysis and evaluation. De Gruyter Mouton.

Merriam-Webster. Essential Meaning of argument. Retrieved 9 November 2021, from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argument