Argument Basics Argument consists of premise and conclusion. What is argument?Reasoning has premises with conclusions. What are the premise and the conclusion in the cartoon on education? Premise and ConclusionThe premise is that it is hard for kids to fit in at school.The conclusion is that a game like musical chairs only makes it harder to fit in. Argument = Premise ConclusionIs it funny that a college graduate has become a cook? In the cartoon, what are the premise and the conclusion? Argument = Premise ConclusionPremise: Graduates get good jobs.Premise: Fine arts majors don’t.Conclusion: At college, don’t take the Fine arts major. Authors may not state the premises.Sometimes authors state their case without providing a stated premise.For example, a professor may tell a student: “You can pass this course easily.”What is the professor’s unstated premise? The student already knows everything. The professor will pass the student no matter how well the student scores. The professor believes that the student is able to learn enough to pass the course. Authors don’t always give their reasons.If a professor states: “You can pass this course easily.” The unstated premise is probably that The student already knows everything. The professor will pass the student no matter how well the student scores. The professor believes that the student is able to learn enough to pass the course. What are dependent premises?Dependent premises need help to support the conclusion.Minnie says that she shot Mickey because she couldn’t stand his voice anymore.Will the police accept her premise as enough?Or will they ask her to present more reasons for having shot Mickey? What are independent premises?Independent premises don’t need another premise to provide support for a conclusion. Which are the independent premises here?Can there be more than one independent premise? Science is based on experiment, on a willingness to challenge old dogma, on an openness to see the universe as it is. Accordingly, science can require courage. There can be more than one independent premise.Independent premises don’t need another premise to provide support for a conclusion. The independent premises here are Science is based on experiment, on a willingness to challenge old dogma, on an openness to see the universe as it is. Accordingly, science can require courage. Does it take courage to experiment and change how we see things? Premises have lead-ins.What are the lead-in words that indicate premises? Since apples taste good, I’ll eat one now. For your future, you must study today. In view of your many traffic tickets, your driver’s license has been suspended. Because of paying attention, you have learned to write good essays. Premises have lead-ins.The lead-in words that indicate premises or reasons are Since apples taste good, I’ll eat one now. For your future, you must study today. In view of your many traffic tickets, your driver’s lice.

1. Argument Basics
Argument consists of premise and conclusion.
What is argument?Reasoning has premises with conclusions.
What are the premise and the conclusion in the cartoon on
education?
Premise and ConclusionThe premise is that it is hard for kids to
fit in at school.The conclusion is that a game like musical chairs
only makes it harder to fit in.
graduate has become a cook?
In the cartoon, what are the premise and the conclusion?
jobs.Premise: Fine arts majors don’t.Conclusion: At college,
don’t take the Fine arts major.
Authors may not state

2. the premises.Sometimes authors state their case without
providing a stated premise.For example, a professor may tell a
student: “You can pass this course easily.”What is the
professor’s unstated premise?
The student already knows everything.
The professor will pass the student no matter how well the
student scores.
The professor believes that the student is able to learn enough
to pass the course.
Authors don’t always
give their reasons.If a professor states: “You can pass this
course easily.”
The unstated premise is probably that
The student already knows everything.
The professor will pass the student no matter how well the
student scores.
The professor believes that the student is able to learn enough
to pass the course.
What are dependent premises?Dependent premises need help to
support the conclusion.Minnie says that she shot Mickey
because she couldn’t stand his voice anymore.Will the police
accept her premise as enough?Or will they ask her to present
more reasons for having shot Mickey?
What are independent premises?Independent premises don’t
need another premise to provide support for a conclusion.

3. Which are the independent premises here?Can there be more
than one independent premise?
Science is based on experiment,
on a willingness to challenge old dogma,
on an openness to see the universe as it is.
Accordingly, science can require courage.
There can be more than one independent premise.Independent
premises don’t need another premise to provide support for a
conclusion.
The independent premises here are
Science is based on experiment,
on a willingness to challenge old dogma,
on an openness to see the universe as it is.
Accordingly, science can require courage.
Does it take courage
to experiment and change
how we see things?
Premises have lead-ins.What are the lead-in words that indicate
premises?
Since apples taste good, I’ll eat one now.
For your future, you must study today.
In view of your many traffic tickets, your driver’s license has
been suspended.
Because of paying attention, you have learned to write good
essays.

4. Premises have lead-ins.The lead-in words that indicate premises
or reasons are
Since apples taste good, I’ll eat one now.
For your future, you must study today.
In view of your many traffic tickets, your driver’s license has
been suspended.
Because of your paying attention, you have learned to write
good essays.
Premises may be irrelevant.Is it relevant to tell the judge that
you were speeding because you were insane?Won’t he find the
premise irrelevant?
Stated and Unstated ConclusionsWhy did the policeman stop the
driver?What is the driver’s reaction?Is the policeman’s
conclusion stated or unstated?
Controversial ConclusionsAre the findings of all medical
studies correct?Do you believe that life is bad for you?Is the
conclusion especially controversial?
Conclusions may have lead-ins.Why does the boy want the man
to tell about himself?Which keyword does the boy use to
introduce his conclusion?
Conclusions Repeat WordsWhat is the girl doing?To whom is

5. she complaining?Which word introduces the change in her
prayer?
Premises must tie to conclusions.What does the bum want?
Is he just too optimistic?
Which conclusion makes more sense?
When the premise mismatches the conclusion.Why is Billy
getting only
half paid?Will he trust his dad anymore?In conclusion,
should he demand a written contract?
Can you match the vocabulary?
Unit 4: Lesson 3
coincide-happen together
deviation-change
format-layout
norm-rule
preliminary-beginning
__1. Ed’s vacation time will __ with his wife's time off.
__2. The test results deviated so clearly from the __ that the
teacher decided not to use them.
__3. The __ results of her research were disappointing, but later
findings were promising.
__4. Jorge found the __ of that computer program to be rather
confusing.
__5. No __ from the rules will be allowed during the exam.

6. Can you match the vocabulary?
Unit 4: Lesson 3
Coincide
Deviation
Format
Norm
Preliminary
A 1. Ed’s vacation time will __ with his wife's time off.
D 2. The test results deviated so clearly from the __ that the
teacher decided not to use them.
E 3. The __ results of her research were disappointing, but later
findings were promising.
C 4. Jorge found the __ of that computer program to be rather
confusing.
B 5. No __ from the rules will be allowed during the exam.
Individual Course Goal/s Plan
Desired goal/s for this course: (answer with specifics and
details)
Plan to achieve this/these goals: (answer with specifics and
details)
(Answer at start of quarter)
(Answer at start of quarter)
What you need to achieve your goal/s: (answer with specifics
and details)
How you will measure your progress: (answer with specifics
and details)
(Answer at start of quarter)
(Answer at start of quarter)
Student’s Name:
1 of 1