vocabulary chapter 2

Question 1

a set of statements intended to provide information about a situation, topic, or event.

Answer 1

report

Question 2

are not arguments, but may be confused with arguments, i.e. reports, illustrations, explanations, conditionals

Answer 2

unsupported assertions

Question 3

a statement together with an explanatory or clarifying example

Answer 3

illustration

Question 4

provides a reason for the occurence of some phenomenon

Answer 4

explanatory statement

Question 5

are stated in such a way that the important logical features are explicit

Answer 5

well-crafted argument

Question 6

words that signify a premise, such as, because, since, for, as, after all, the reason is that, in light of the fact that, based on the fact that

Answer 6

premise indicators

Question 7

words that signify a conclustion, such as, so, therefore, hence, implies that, it follows that, thus, accordingly, consequently, we may infer that, which proves that

Answer 7

conclusion indicators

Question 8

an acknowledgment of a fact or possibility that might be thought to render the argument invaild, weak, unsound, or uncogent

Answer 8

discount

Question 9

increase an argument’s psychological persuasiveness without affecting its validity, strength, soundness, or cogency

Answer 9

rhetorical elements

Question 10

although, even though, in spite of the fact that, despite the fact that, while it may be true that, while I admit that, I realize that…but, I know that…but,

Answer 10

discount indicators

Question 11

restating a premise or conclusion, perhapse altering the wording slightly

Answer 11

repetition

Question 12

a statment, word, or phrase that indicates that the author is confident of a premise or inference; i.e. obiously, no doubt, certainly, plainly, clearly, everyone knows that, it is well known that, no one will deny that, this is undeniable, that is a fact

Answer 12

assurance

Question 13

a statement, word, or phrase that indicates that the arguer is tentative about a premise or inference; i.e. I think that, it seems that, perhaps, maybe, in my opinion, I believe that, I guess that, it is reasonable to suppose that, this seems reasonable, this is plausible

Answer 13

hedge

Question 14

conclusions that become a premise supporting the final conclusion

Answer 14

subconclusion

Question 15

principles for re-writing arguments as well-crafted ones

Answer 15

1. Identify the premises and the conclusion.
2. Eliminate excess verbage (e.g., discounts, repetition, assurances, hedges).
3. Employ unifor language.
4. Be fair and charitable in interpreting an argument.
5. Do not confuse subconclusions with (final) conclusions.