Discussion 1 Week 3, prompt option #1: Creating an Inductively Strong argument This week we are learning about the power of inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is not only extremely common, but it can also provide very good evidence for conclusions. This discussion prompt allows you to present an inductive version of the argument that you have been developing in this course. Prepare : To prepare to write this discussion, read Chapters 5 and 6, focusing especially the section on “Strengthening Inductive Reasoning” in Chapter 5. Take a look as well at the required resources from this week, including What is a Strong Argument? [Link] Reflect : Create a new (and improved) version of the argument that you have been developing throughout this course or create an argument for one of the premises of that argument. Try to make sure that all of your premises are true and that your reasoning is inductively strong. Again, consider how someone with the opposite point of view might criticize your argument and see if you can improve it to avoid those objections. Write : Present your argument in standard form and explain any weaknesses that might remain. A weakness could mean a premise that many might disagree with or questions about the strength of the inference. Indicate briefly how you might address those weaknesses to strengthen your argument further. What further information might strengthen your argument the most? Guided Response:  Read the arguments presented by your classmates and analyze the reasoning that they have presented. Comment on the strength of their reasoning. Help them out by pointing out any respect in which a reasonable person might disagree with the truth of their premises or with the strength of their reasoning. Give suggestions for how the argument might be improved. If someone presents good suggestions for your own argument respond with an improved version of the argument. Reply Reply to Comment Attach Cancel Previous Previous: Week 3 - Lectures Next Next: Week 3 - Discussion 2 Insert Content into the Page Links Images Link to other content in the course. Click any page to insert a link to that page. Wiki Pages Course Calendar Course Grading Course Home Faculty Expectations Recommended Resources Required Resources Start Here Week 1 - Lectures Week 1 - Overview Week 1 - Resources Week 2 - Lectures Week 2 - Overview Week 2 - Resources Week 3 - Lectures Week 3 - Overview Week 3 - Resources Week 4 - End of Course Survey Week 4 - Lectures Week 4 - Overview Week 4 - Resources Week 5 - Lectures Week 5 - Overview Week 5 - Resources Assignments Assignment List Final Grade Week 1 - Assignment Week 1 - Critical Thinking Quiz Week 1 - Discussion Week 1 - Post Your Introduction Week 1 - Quiz Week 2 - Discussion 1 Week 2 - Discussion 2 Week 2 - Quiz Week 3 - Assignment Week 3 - Discussion 1 Week 3 - Discussion 2 Week 3 - Quiz Week 4 - Discussion 1 Week 4 - Discussion 2 Week 4 - Journal Week 4 - Quiz Week 5 - .

1. Discussion 1
Week 3, prompt option #1: Creating an Inductively Strong
argument
This week we are learning about the power of inductive
reasoning. Inductive reasoning is not only extremely common,
but it can also provide very good evidence for conclusions. This
discussion prompt allows you to present an inductive version of
the argument that you have been developing in this course.
Prepare
: To prepare to write this discussion, read Chapters 5 and 6,
focusing especially the section on “Strengthening Inductive
Reasoning” in Chapter 5. Take a look as well at the required
resources from this week, including
What is a Strong Argument?
[Link]
Reflect
: Create a new (and improved) version of the argument that you
have been developing throughout this course or create an
argument for one of the premises of that argument. Try to make
sure that all of your premises are true and that your reasoning is
inductively strong. Again, consider how someone with the
opposite point of view might criticize your argument and see if
you can improve it to avoid those objections.
Write
: Present your argument in
standard form
and explain any weaknesses that might remain. A weakness
could mean a premise that many might disagree with or
questions about the strength of the inference. Indicate briefly
how you might address those weaknesses to strengthen your

2. argument further. What further information might strengthen
your argument the most?
Guided Response:
Read the arguments presented by your classmates and analyze
the reasoning that they have presented. Comment on the
strength of their reasoning. Help them out by pointing out any
respect in which a reasonable person might disagree with the
truth of their premises or with the strength of their reasoning.
Give suggestions for how the argument might be improved. If
someone presents good suggestions for your own argument
respond with an improved version of the argument.
Reply
Reply to Comment
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Discussion 2
Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and
you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates.
Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and
the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum
Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on
how your discussion will be evaluated.

7. Inductive Reasoning Discussion #2
Your instructor will choose the discussion question and post it
as the first post in the discussion forum. The requirements for
the discussion this week are a minimum of four posts on four
separate days, including responses to at least two classmates.
The total combined word count for all of your posts, counted
together, should be at least 600 words. Answer all the questions
in the prompt, and read any resources that are required to
complete the discussion properly.
In order to satisfy the posting requirements for the week,
complete your initial post by Day 3 (Thursday) and your other
posts by Day 7 (Monday). We recommend that you get into the
discussion early and spread out your posts over the course of
the week. Reply to your classmates and instructor. Attempt to
take the conversation further by examining their claims or
arguments in more depth or responding to the posts that they
make to you. Keep the discussion on target, and analyze things
in as much detail as you can.
Assignment
This paper assignment expands upon your Week One
Assignment and prepares you for the Final Paper. The expansion
is to learn to improve one’s argument after investigating and
fairly representing the opposite point of view. The main new
tasks are to revise your previous argument created in Week One,
to present a counterargument (an argument for a contrary
conclusion), and to develop an objection to your original
argument.
Here are the steps to prepare to write the counterargument
paper:
Begin reviewing your previous paper paying particular attention
to suggestions for improvement made by your instructor.
Revise your argument, improving it as much as possible,
accounting for any suggestions and in light of further material
you have learned in the course. If your argument is inductive,
make sure that it is strong. If your argument is deductive, make

8. sure that it is valid.
Construct what you take to be the strongest possible argument
for a conclusion contrary to the one you argued for in your
Week One paper. This is your counterargument. This should be
based on careful thought and appropriate research.
Consider the primary points of disagreement between the point
of view of your original argument and that of the
counterargument.
Think about what you take to be the strongest objection to your
original argument and how you might answer the objection
while being fair to both sides. Search in the Ashford University
Library for quality academic sources that support some aspect
of your argument or counterargument.
In your paper,
Present a revised argument in standard form, with each premise
and the conclusion on a separate line.
Present a counterargument in standard form, with each premise
and the conclusion on a separate line.
Provide support for each premise of your counterargument.
Clarify the meaning of the premise and supporting evidence for
the premise.
Pay special attention to those premises that could be seen as
controversial. Evidence may include academic research sources,
supporting arguments, or other ways of demonstrating the truth
of the premise (for more ideas about how to support the truth of
premises take a look at the instructor guidance for this week).
This section should include at least one scholarly research
source. For guidance about how to develop a conclusion see the
Ashford Writing Center’s
Introductions and Conclusions
(Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
.
Explain how the conclusion of the counterargument follows
from its premises. [One paragraph]
Discuss the primary points of disagreement between sincere and

9. intelligent proponents of both sides. [One to two paragraphs]
For example, you might list any premises or background
assumptions on which you think such proponents would
disagree and briefly state what you see as the source of the
disagreement, you could give a brief explanation of any
reasoning that you think each side would find objectionable, or
you could do a combination of these.
Present the best objection to your original argument. Clearly
indicate what part of the argument your objection is aimed at,
and provide a paragraph of supporting evidence for the
objection. Reference at least one scholarly research source.
[One to two paragraphs]
See the “Practicing Effective Criticism” section of Chapter 9 of
your primary textbook for more information about how to
present an objection.
For further instruction on how to create arguments, see the
How to Construct a Valid Main Argument
(Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
and
Tips for Creating an Inductively Strong Argument
(Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
documents as well as the video
Constructing Valid Arguments
(Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
.
For an example of how to complete this paper, take a look at the
following Week Three
Annotated Example
(Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
. Let your instructor know if you have questions about how to
complete this paper.