Identifying and

Analyzing
Arguments
Initial Task: ( on your notebook)

True or False
1. An argument, for the purposes of logic, is made
up of a set of statements that supports another
statement.
2. An inference is a guess based on the given
details.
3. The premises in a fallacious argument are related
to the conclusion.
4. Fighting is one of the components of arguments.
5. A good argument is structured with a series of
responses of doubts.
6. An argument, in logic, is a battle of words.
7. Deductive argument discusses the actual but
not the general truth of the premises.
8. The premises of an argument are supposed
to provide evidence for the conclusion.
9. The premises of a valid argument must be
true.
10. Logic is an empirical science in
establishing an argument.
11. An argument becomes weak when the
premise does not support it fully.
12. Through arguments, we can make people
feel or act a certain way.
13. All manifestos express an argument.
14. A deductive argument is based on a
universal premise.
15. An inductive argument is based on a most-
likely-to-happen premise.
Activity 1: Agree or Disagree
Directions: Ponder on the
issues below and say whether
you agree or disagree. Using
the Venn Diagram, compare
and contrast.
Agree Disagree
Do it on the board.
“Social media
usage should be
controlled”
Let’s answer;
● Where did you base your
reason/s?
● Do you need to give strong
reasons for those questions?
Why?
What is a Manifesto?
A manifesto is a published declaration of the
intentions, beliefs, motives, or views of
someone, be it an individual, group, political
party, or government. It is usually political (for
election purposes) or artistic in nature.
However, there are also other types of
manifestos that may or may not contain an
argument like:
— Creeds (religious beliefs)
— Educational manifestos
— Scientific and technological
manifestos
— Professional manifestos (pertaining to
an individual or organization)
__ Personal manifestos
Can you tell the type
of manifestos used in
the samples?
Yes, it is an artistic
manifesto
Yes, it is an educational
manifesto with an
argument shown in
italics.
Yes, it is a political
manifesto but with
no argument.
What is an argument?
You may wonder why you need to know about
the word “argument” much more you do not
have to write it in your assignment for it to be
an important part of your task. The kind of
argument we are talking about here is not what
we often used in everyday language which
refers to a heated dispute, a quarrel, a shouting
match to see who wins or not in making a point.
In academic writing, you can never establish a
point without an argument. In fact, making an
argument—expressing a point of view on a
subject and supporting it with evidence—is the
aim of academic writing.
It is a reason or set of reasons given with the
aim of letting others believe with you that an
action or an idea is right or wrong backed up
with evidence to support it. It has premises and
a conclusion (claim).
Example:
1) “The internet is a good invention because 2)
it is a source of endless information and 3) a
hub of entertainment.”
Conclusion: 1
Premise: 2, 3
What is a premise then?
It is a proposition statement in an
argument that rationalizes or
supports the conclusion by providing
some evidence.
Example:
“All mammals are warm-blooded
[major premise]; whales are
mammals [minor premise];
therefore, whales are warm-
blooded
[conclusion]."
Example:
Nonrenewable resources do not
exist in infinite supply. [premise 1]
Coal is a nonrenewable resource.
[premise 2] Coal does not exist in
infinite supply. [conclusion]
 Types of Arguments
1. Deductive
For a deductive argument, you start
with a premise that is assumed to
be true or correct and there is no
more logical reason than a true
premise.
For example, you assume that God exists, and
He is kind, and then determine what would
logically follow from such an assumption. You
can begin by assuming that if you think of it,
then it must exist.
With deduction, you can provide absolute
proof of your conclusions, given that your
premises are correct. However, remember that
the premises themselves remain unproven and
Examples:
• All men are mortal. Ronald is a man.
Therefore, Ronald is mortal.
*The first two statements are true and the
conclusion must be true.
• Bachelors are unmarried men. Billy is
not married. Therefore, Billy is a
bachelor.
• To hold a Bachelor’s degree at
Mindanao State University, a student
must earn 120 credits. Lily has more
than 130 credits. Therefore, Lily has a
bachelor’s degree.
2. Inductive
This type of inferences doesn’t have to
be true but probably are. This is most
likely the useful and practical
argument we can use.
Examples:
● It usually takes me an hour to get to work,
so if I leave at 8:00 I’ll probably get there by
9.
● My best friend advised me not to skip class,
and her advice is usually good, so I’ll follow
it.
● True education makes us behave in the
most acceptable manner. If your ways are
Let us Practice
Activity 2: To Argue or Not To Argue
Directions: Identify the type of manifesto, the
type of argument and check if they pose an
argument or not. Write YES if it has an
argument and NO if it has not. If you answer
YES, identify the conclusion and premise/s? A
sample is done for you.
Sample answer:
(1) We must resist all efforts to allow the government to censor
entertainment. (2) Freedom of speech and expressions are
essential to a democratic form of government. (3) As soon as
we allow some censorship, it won't be long before censorship
will be used to silence the opinions critical of the government.
(4) The next thing we know, we will have no more freedom than
the Germans did under Hitler.
Answer: YES
Type of manifesto: Professional manifesto
Type of argument: Deductive argument
Conclusion: (2)
Premises: (1), (3), (4)
First Group
1. Michael Schechter
(1) “Reflective writing may help students become
better thinkers. (2) It helps students realize that
ideas are meant to be shared, tackled and
debated. (3) Bob and Jay found that students
who did weekly reflective journal writing about
their course content for a semester could
already analyze course concepts at a deeper
level than those who didn’t.
Second Group
2. Chel Diokno
(1) “If given a chance to make it to the senate, I
will make laws that will improve and speed up
the justice system of our country. For me, (2)
lack of transparency is one of the reasons why
justice is delayed and denied. (3) Under the
current system, it is very hard to secure SALNs
to investigate justices.”
Assignment :
Directions: Read President Rodrigo Duterte’s
manifesto. What is the argument posed and on what
premise is it based? Is it an inductive or a deductive
argument?
"Life in the universe won't really last that long. But the
universe itself is forever. And we are always a part of that
universe. You know, recycled tayong lahat e. When you
die, and you become an atom particle, then you are
thrown away back to the wind.”