7.1.10

-- W 13-- Deductive Reasoning, Argument


-- W 13--
TFY C12 Deductive Reasoning, 


CRCB 12 Argument

















TFY Chapter Twelve Deductive Reasoning
This chapter explains the fundamental standards that govern deductive reasoning.  It offers a basic vocabulary of logic and explains how deduction and induction interplay in our thinking.   Discussion with multiple exercises will show you the meaning and significance of such terms as syllogism, premises and conclusion, validity and soundness. A writing application asks you to write a deductive argument based on a wise saying.   Final reading selections by Thomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King demonstrate skilled deductive reasoning of enduring persuasiveness.

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TFY - Chapter 12 Deductive Reasoning Student Summary

“TFY” Chapter 12 – Deductive Reasoning Summary

This chapter was all about deductive reasoning and the logic behind it. The chapter also compared deductive reasoning with inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning usually starts with a general principle and then applies it to a specific instance. While inductive reasoning usually starts with a more specific instance and then pulls it into a more general principle. 

The logic behind the deduction is a science of good reasoning, both inductive and deductive. I learned in this chapter there are some key terms I must understand in order to understand the basics of logic. The terms I need to understand are: argument, reasoning, syllogism, premise (major and minor), conclusion, validity, and soundness. 

From previous chapters, and this one, I learned that an argument can be both inductive and deductive and can be valid even if the premises are not true. I previously also learned that reasoning is drawn from facts, which will lead you to conclusions, judgments, or inferences about whatever topic you are discussing or reading about. 

Conclusion, validity and soundness are also some terms that I have already known the meaning behind. Your conclusion is a way to summarize your main point or what you are trying to get across or get action on. Validity and soundness both have to do with the truth behind your argument, reasoning, and premise. Premise was also a word that was previously discussed in another chapter, but in this chapter we learned that a major premise is more of a generalization, while a minor premise is more specific. The new key term to me in this chapter is syllogism. I have learned that this term clarifies the claims or premises, helps you to discover and expose hidden premises, and helps to find out if one thought follows another thought logically.


“TFY” Chapter 12 – Deductive Reasoning Exercise

Discovery Exercise – Page 348 – What is Deductive Reasoning?
Using at least two dictionaries, look up the terms deduction, deductive logic, and reasoning. Then write out in your own words a definition of deductive reasoning.

Deduction:
1. Noun – the act or process of deducting; subtraction (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – that which is deducted; that which is subtracted or removed (wiktionary.com)

Deductive logic:
1. Noun – a process of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessary from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true. (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – a process of reasoning that moves from the general to the specific, in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true. (wiktionary.com)

Deductive reasoning:
1. Noun – reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect) (dictionary.com)
2. Noun – inference in which the conclusion is just as certain as the premises (wiktionary.com)

My definition of deductive reasoning: reasoning that goes from a more general topic into the details of that topic.



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CRCB - Chapter 12 - Identifying and Evaluating Arguments Exercise

“CRCB” Chapter 12 - Identifying and Evaluating Arguments Exercise

Exercise 12a - Engaging in Argument - Page 395-397:
Read the following version of the fairy tale Cinderella and decide whether the statements that follow it are true, false, or questionable. Provide a reason for each of your answers. For the purpose of this exercise, accept each sentence of the fairy tale as fact and forget about the common version of it. Think about what information each sentence conveys before making judgments about the statements that follow. Afterward you will share your responses with other members of your class. Some will agree with you and some will disagree, and you will see how a harmless fairy tale can turn into an argument.

Cinderella of the 21st Century
Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters disliked her. They bought themselves beautiful clothes and gifts and went to all of the important social events, but Cinderella wore rags and had to stay home. On the night of the Prince’s Ball, the stepmother and stepsisters wore beautiful gowns and jewels, and they left Cinderella at home to clean the fireplace. But Cinderella’s fairy godmother appeared and turned Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful gown. Then the fairy godmother, whose powers were granted to her for all eternity, found a pumpkin and turned it into a gold-plated automobile; she turned a mouse into a chauffer; and Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in grand style. 

Now read each of the following statements and indicate in the space provided whether you think they are true (T), false (F), or questionable (?). Provide one reason for each of your judgments.

1. Cinderella had more than one stepsister.
T - In the story, every time the stepsisters were mentioned, it was in the plural form.

2. Cinderella’s natural mother was dead.
? - There was nothing mentioned about Cinderella’s natural mother.

3. The stepmother and stepsisters went to many social events.
? - The story says the stepmother and stepsisters went to all of the important social events, but it does not say they went to many social events.

4. Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters didn’t buy any beautiful clothes for Cinderella.
T - The story says that the stepmother and stepsisters disliked Cinderella and bought themselves beautiful clothes and gifts while Cinderella wore rags, so I think it is safe to assume they did not buy her anything.


5. A pumpkin can’t be turned into a gold-plated automobile.
F - Yes, in “real” life a pumpkin cannot be turned into a gold-plated automobile, but the directions to this exercise say to read this story and accept each sentence in it as fact; and in the story it says that Cinderella turned a pumpkin into a gold-plated automobile.

6. The stepmother and stepsisters disliked Cinderella.
T - The very first sentence of this story states just that.

7. Cinderella’s stepmother or stepsisters made Cinderella stay home when they went to the important social events.
? - The story says that Cinderella had to stay home when her stepmother and stepsisters went to the important social events, but does not say they made her stay home. You can assume it though.

8. The step mother and stepsisters offered to take Cinderella to the Prince’s Ball with them.
F - No where in the story does it say this.

9. Cinderella walked to the Prince’s Ball.
F - The last line of the story says that Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in style, not that she walked.

10. Cinderella wanted to go to the Prince’s Ball.
T - I would say that because she went to the Ball that would mean that she wanted to go.

11. The stepmother and stepsisters left Cinderella home on the night of the Prince’s Ball.
T - The story says they left her home to clean the fireplace.

12. Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in a carriage drawn by six white horses.
? - The story says she turned a pumpkin into a gold-plated automobile and rode to the Ball in style, but does not say she rode to the Ball in the gold-plated automobile.

13. Although the stepmother and stepsisters had beautiful clothes, they never bought clothes for themselves.
F - The story says they bought beautiful clothes and gifts for themselves.

14. The stepmother and stepsisters went only to social events that were important.
? - The story says that they did go to important social events, but did not specify if that was the only type of events they attended.

15. Cinderella’s fairy godmother was an evil in disguise.
? - The story does not specify if she was good or evil. You assume she is good.

CRCB - Chapter 12 - Identifying and Evaluating Arguments Summary

“CRCB” Chapter 12 - Identifying and Evaluating Arguments Summary

In this chapter I learned that you need to analyze and evaluate an argument. You need to look at the argument in more detail. You need to pin point the reasons and the conclusion. I also learned there are two main types of arguments. There are deductive and inductive arguments. Deductive arguments begin with a general statement and then show the supporting details. An inductive argument begins with a series of observations and then concludes with a generalization that was logically pulled from the observations. Inductive arguments are mostly what type of arguments occur in our every day lives.
You need to determine dependability by asking questions like, who wrote what you are reading, is the source reliable, when was the article published, and what is the author’s credentials? You also need to distinguish fact from opinion and detect fallacies. I learned there are several types of fallacies to look out for. These types of fallacies are: either/ or thinking, hasty generalization or overgeneralization, red herring, false cause, slippery slope, ad hominem, and circular reasoning. All of these fallacies can lead to error in the reasoning of an argument. They can cause you to limit your answers to a problem, have too weak of supporting reason to too broad of a conclusion. They can cause or consist of author assumption, reader distraction or exclude the proper reasoning. Reading this chapter was interesting to me. I feel that I learned some helpful tips on how to evaluate arguments. Especially some ways that an author of an article would try to “trick” me into believing what they want without properly making up my own mind.

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