Week 12 Discussion #3

In chapter 15, cause and effect was discussed. I found the general cause and effect portion of the section to be most interesting. This type of claim is when several cause and effects must be true for the statement to be true. The example the book gave is as follows: Very loud barking by someone’s dog near him when he is sleeping causes him to wake, if he’s not deaf. The statement gives various conditions such as loudness, distance, and capabilities (deaf). Each factor is essential in the statement because it answers any possible question that may arise if the claim was simple such as: Spot barked and woke me up. This statement is not strong because it does not describe the situation thoroughly enough for the audience to understand the situation clearly. Furthermore, by stating the general cause and effect claim rather than the specific instance of Spot barking, the claim can be used by others.

Week 12 Discussion #2

The Mission Critical website was useful because it seemed to resemble the textbook for the class. It bolded important terms and gave a few examples to back up the concept being discussed. I felt that the website was just an e-book type for the course textbook. This method is possibly better for most people because it can link you to topics quickly instead of rummaging through hundreds of pages. Furthermore, I found the exercises to be most useful in this website. I generally do not even attempt to look at exercises in the books mainly because they either do not have an answer to them or they do not explain why one answer is better than another. However, in this website, the exercises were helpful because it told me why one answer was a better choice than the rest. This further helped me understand certain concepts because it eliminates any doubts and questions I have.

Week 12 Discussion #1

I found the Cause and Effect website reading and exercises to be extremely helpful in understanding causal arguments. The website gave a clear example of the truck and bicyclist as both an inductive and causal argument. For instance, the causal method of the argument was that one thing caused another such as the bicyclist swerving due to the illegally parked truck and the first driver braking quickly. A causal argument is different from an inductive argument primarily because in a causal argument, there is only one significance difference. For example, the truck driver did not affect the first driver because the bicyclist is the bridge between the two factors.

Moreover, I felt that the exercises helped me greatly in understanding this concept. Being able to identify how different factors can influence one another is important, especially if one is trying to find the root cause of the entire situation. For example, the exercise questioned the audience how we knew it was the potato salad that was causing the illness to a certain group of people and why other people were not affected.

Week 11 Discussion #3

In this week’s reading, I found the inductive reasoning to be most useful. Inductive reasoning is when one uses previous observations and experiences to make a conclusion. I find that personal experiences are most reliable when coming up with an argument because one has already seen and gone through whatever one wants the argument to be. Personal experiences and observations are valid evidence to make a valid statement, and even a strong argument.

Example: I had an allergic reaction when I ate peanuts at the age of five. Now being 19, I will most likely have an allergic reaction if I eat peanuts again.

Since I had an experience when I was younger, I can use that experience to predict the present and future possible outcomes. Inductive reasoning incorporates the idea of one needing to learn from one’s mistakes or of one using the past to improve the future. The past, our experiences and observations, are the realest things we have.

Week 11 Discussion #2

The most difficult reasoning for me was sign reasoning. For some reason, I could not grapple with the idea of having two things that are closely related in an argument. I feel as if I am stating the obvious when I do that. Usually, I try not to state the obvious because I do not want to give extra information that the audience should already know. For example, sign reasoning would be something like, “there is a fire, so there is smoke.” Well, obviously there would be smoke if there is fire, one does not need to state it. However, I did some research on the topic and realized it is an effect-to-cause reasoning instead of a cause-to-effect reasoning. This is important to know because it shows how the premise is only possible if the conclusion is true. However, if the conclusion is true, it does not necessarily mean the premise is true. Take for instance the fire example, fire needs to produce smoke but smoke does not necessarily mean there is a fire.

Source: http%3a//commfaculty.fullerton.edu/rgass/235%2520Spring%25202009/Sign%2520reasoning.ppt

Week 11 Discussion #1

1). Reasoning by Analogy: For this reasoning, one comparison draws to a conclusion, and the other side concludes the same conclusion.
- Exercising on a daily basis prevents obesity. If Americans exercised more often, people will have a less likelihood of becoming obese.

2). Sign Reasoning: This reasoning is when two things are closely related to one another to show that one cannot exist without the other.
- Where there’s Tumblr, there is Internet connection.

3). Causal Reasoning: This is the cause and effect reasoning. One factor affected the outcome.
- I did not study for my midterm. Therefore, I earned a poor grade on my test.

4). Reasoning by Criteria: One must state the criteria that is being judged, and then decide what is the best decision. This is somewhat like a problem-solution method.
- I don’t get enough sleep at night because of school and work. I will take naps throughout my day to get the rest I need.

5). Reasoning by Example: An example is provided in the reasoning.
- You should buy Call of Duty MW3. All my friends can’t stop talking about how fun it is and that one would be missing out if he/she didn’t buy it.

6). Inductive: This is the use of previous observations to reason or make a conclusion.
- There were several hurricanes on the East coast of the United States last summer. Therefore, there will be several hurricanes in the East coast next summer.

7). Deductive: This reasoning is when the conclusion must be true if the premise is true.
- In order to have a credit score, one must have a credit card. I have a credit card, so I have a credit score.

Week 10 Discussion #3

One concept from this week’s reading that I found interesting was the appeal to spite. This is an appeal that incorporates revenge. For instance, if someone asks you to help him or her with something, but you remember that the person did not help you in the past, you may argue that it is only fair not to help that person since they did not help you. I find this appeal to be somewhat hilarious because it is basically implying that one needs to receive in order to give. An example of this appeal is in the following:

Boyfriend: Can I borrow $10?
Girlfriend: No because you didn’t buy me that diamond necklace last week.

Obviously, this is not a good argument because the argument simply seems absurd. However, if the favor was equal to the previous favor such as “since you did not go to my graduation, I will not go to your birthday party,” then the appeal to spite seems somewhat better.

Week 10 Discussion #2

2) Find an advertisement that uses apple polishing. Is it a good argument?

Apple polishing is an appeal to vanity. This type of appeal is one that motivates a person to do something to enhance one’s self-esteem. Many advertisements use this approach in order to sell the maximum amount of a certain product. By making the advertisement seem enviable, people would more than likely buy the product to become like the advertisement.

In this example, Maybelline is advertising their mascara, Falsies, worn by a beautiful woman. Falsies’ description states, “corner-to-corner volume for 300% more visible lashes” (Maybelline.com). In the advertisement, the model has dramatic, full, long lashes that enhance the beauty of her eyes. If one buys this product, Maybelline is implicitly implying that the longer and fuller lashes will help make one seem beautiful such as the woman. Maybelline’s unstated premise may sound something like the following: If you buy Maybelline’s Falsies mascara, you will have full volume lashes that will make you look beautiful and sexy.

Week 10 Discussion #1

An appeal to emotion is an argument that states you should agree and act upon something based on the way you feel about the subject. One appeal that strikes me the most is the appeal to pity. I find this kind of appeal to be most used when trying to convince an audience because many people often act upon a choice and decision when they are negatively affected, specifically in a sad way. For instance, the commercials on television that speak about the abused animals have a great amount of usage of the appeal to pity. The commercial is able to do this because of the vivid imagery of the hurt pet and the diction the speaker often uses such as “help this poor kitten in need.” Furthermore, appeal to pity can be used on the streets at any moment. Many homeless people often use this tactic in order to get money from pedestrians and even drivers. The homeless people’s reasons such as needing money to buy food and water makes a person sympathize with them, resulting in some sort of charity.