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Rounding Out Arguments

Completion requirements

Read these sections to learn how to round out arguments conceptually. The first section will distinguish between two types of argument: deductive and inductive. Pay careful attention to the difference between these two, and think about which kind of argument you use more often. The second section will help you identify arguments with a missing premise and determine how and when to supply this missing premise. It will also introduce you to the principle of charity and the difference between normative and descriptive statements – three very important terms! The third section shows you three rhetorical devices to hint at further argument without actually going through the argument: assuring, guarding, and discounting.

Complete the exercises, then check your answers against the keys.

Exercise

Supply the missing premise or premises needed in order to make the following arguments valid. Try to make the premises as plausible as possible while making the argument valid (which is to apply the principle of charity).
  1. Ed rides horses. Therefore, Ed is a cowboy.
  2. Tom was driving over the speed limit. Therefore, Tom was doing something wrong.
  3. If it is raining then the ground is wet. Therefore, the ground must be wet.
  4. All elves drink Guinness, which is why Olaf drinks Guinness.
  5. Mark didn't invite me to homecoming. Instead, he invited his friend Alexia. So he must like Alexia more than me.
  6. The watch must be broken because every time I have looked at it, the hands have been in the same place.
  7. Olaf drank too much Guinness and fell out of his second story apartment window. Therefore, drinking too much Guinness caused Olaf to injure himself.
  8. Mark jumped into the air. Therefore, Mark landed back on the ground.
  9. In 2009 in the United States, the net worth of the median white household was $113,149 a year, whereas the net worth of the median black household was $5,677. Therefore, as of 2009, the United States was still a racist nation.
  10. The temperature of the water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the water is boiling.
  11. Capital punishment sometimes takes innocent lives, such as the lives of individuals who were later found to be not guilty. Therefore, we should not allow capital punishment.
  12. Allowing immigrants to migrate to the U.S. will take working class jobs away from working class folks. Therefore, we should not allow immigrants to migrate to the U.S.
  13. Prostitution is a fair economic exchange between two consenting adults. Therefore, prostitution should be allowed.
  14. Colleges are more interested in making money off of their football athletes than in educating them. Therefore, college football ought to be banned.
  15. Edward received an F in college Algebra. Therefore, Edward should have studied more.
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