Chapter 3 Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY

Argument Basics

• Arguments come in two forms: deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is intended to provide logically conclusive support for a conclusion; an inductive one, probable support for a conclusion. Deductive arguments can be valid or invalid; inductive arguments, strong or weak. A valid argument with true premises is said to be sound. A strong argument with true premises is said to be cogent.

Judging Arguments

• Evaluating an argument is the most important skill of critical thinking. It involves finding the conclusion and premises, checking to see if the argument is deductive or inductive, determining its validity or strength, and discovering if the premises are true or false. A four-step process can help you answer these questions.

Uncovering Implied Premises

• Sometimes you also have to ferret out implicit, or unstated, premises. Finding implicit premises is a three-step process.

Assessing Long Arguments

• Some arguments are embedded in extended passages, persuasive essays, long reports, even whole books. In such lengthy material, (1) only a small portion of the prose may contain statements that serve as the premises and conclusion, (2) the premises or conclusion may be implicit, and (3) many longer works purporting to be filled with arguments contain very few arguments or none at all.