Analytical Thinking: Identifying Arguments

Identifying an Argument

• An argument in logic and critical thinking consists of a list of statements, with one conclusion and multiple premises.
• The premise of an argument is offered as a reason for accepting the conclusion.

Premises and Conclusions

• A premise is a statement that supports the conclusion.
• Examples of premises:
  • P1. People who are kind give charity to the poor.
  • P2. Mrs. Mensah gives charity to the poor always.
  • C. Mrs. Mensah is kind.

Examples of Arguments

• Example 2:
  • P1. Ghana was a British colony.
  • P2. All British colonies use English as their second language.
  • C. Ghana uses English as her second language.
• Example 3:
  • P1. When you take coffee after 6 pm, you will not have a sound sleep that night.
  • P2. Joana has taken coffee at 7 pm.
  • C. Joana will not have a sound sleep tonight.
• Example 4:
  • P1. Nigeria has more population than Ethiopia.
  • P2. Ethiopia has more population than Kenya.
  • P3. Kenya has more population than Ghana.
  • C. Nigeria has more population than Ghana.

Indicator Words

• Indicator words for premises:
  • Since
  • This is
  • Because
  • Assuming that
  • For
  • Given that
• Indicator words for conclusions:
  • Therefore
  • Hence
  • Thus
  • So
  • Consequently
  • It can be concluded that
  • Proves that
  • Shows that
  • Indicates that

Analyzing an Argument

• Steps to analyze an argument:
  • Identify the premises and conclusions in the target passage.
  • Leave out superfluous material and focus on the main ideas.
  • Delete anything that does not affect the central argument or the main points.
  • Reformulate and simplify the central ideas in your own words to make them easier to understand.

Activity

• Examples of arguments to analyze:
  • Seriously, don't you think you should be staying at home? Didn't you hear that a thunderstorm is coming?
  • Since all Maoists are communists and all communists are Marxists, Maoists are Marxists.
  • Listen up. You should not drive. You can barely keep your eyes open.
  • He didn't call. If he wants to go out with me, he would have called. Obviously, he is not interested in me.
  • We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.
  • You should not jaywalk. It is true that many people do it. But you might get hit by a car. Or the police might arrest you.
  • If the solution is acidic, the litmus paper would have turned red. But since it hasn't, the solution is not acidic.