Creative CC2002 and Critical Thinking
Semester One 2011/12
Tutorial 3 Argument Analysis and Standard Form Writing
Inference: An inference is a mental process of linking propositions in which a
proposition is justified by other proposition(s).
Argument: An argument is a set of statements in which some statement(s) is/are
claimed to justify another statement.
Premise: The premise(s) of an argument is/are the statement(s) which claim(s) to
justify another statement of this argument.
Conclusion: The conclusion of an argument is the statement which is claimed to be
justified by other statement(s) of this argument.
The Standard Form () of an argument is as follows:
Premise 2
Premise 1
Premise 3
Conclusion
For example :
()
All men are mortal.
(Premise 1)
()
Socrates is a man.
(Premise 2)
()
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
(Conclusion)
Please try to analyses the structure of the following arguments and rewrite them in
standard form.
1.
All whales are animals. For all whales are mammals, and all mammals are animals.
2.
Student: Why do you deduct my marks?
Teacher: It is because you did not hand in your work on time.
3.
Either Edwin will win the election or Sam will win the election. But Edwin wont
win the election. Therefore, Sam will win the election.
4.
5.
6.
7.
,
(From CCT Final Exam 0910 Semester
One)