Academic writing: notes
1. Lecture 1: Tool box
We focus on rules 0-6
Rule 0: define your terms
o What: opinion
Saying -> information
Information is not part of an argument
o What (conclusion) + why (premise): argument
Claim -> a position
Explain why you think what you think
Explain, don’t proclaim
Conclusion determines relevancy
o The more familiar you are with something, the less you will define it. Be careful for this!
o 3 worst problems for critical thinking
Ambiguity
▫ Don’t allow others to use a different meaning in my statement, if they
misunderstand the meaning they won’t understand the argument
Arbitrary
Inference
▫ We want people to follow the steps we set
Rule 1: identify premise and conclusion
o Best way to argue: find conclusion and premises to attack premises
o Umberto Eco
Chess: game of reason
A good paper should be like a game of chess that you already played and won
Win = conclusion
o Conjunctions (and, a bit,..)= plural
2. Lecture 2
Rule 2: develop your ideas in a ‘natural’ order (logical, reasonable)
o The conclusion gives context
Determines relevancy
o Eco’s chess metaphor
A game you played and won
How did you find every move?
Ideal audience: intelligent but uninformed
o Exclaim don’t proclaim
Ambiguity
Arbitrary
Inference
3. Lecture 3
Rule 3: start from reliable premises
o Fact
Reliable
Is best way, but rarely possible
o Plausible
Reliable
1. Lecture 1: Tool box
We focus on rules 0-6
Rule 0: define your terms
o What: opinion
Saying -> information
Information is not part of an argument
o What (conclusion) + why (premise): argument
Claim -> a position
Explain why you think what you think
Explain, don’t proclaim
Conclusion determines relevancy
o The more familiar you are with something, the less you will define it. Be careful for this!
o 3 worst problems for critical thinking
Ambiguity
▫ Don’t allow others to use a different meaning in my statement, if they
misunderstand the meaning they won’t understand the argument
Arbitrary
Inference
▫ We want people to follow the steps we set
Rule 1: identify premise and conclusion
o Best way to argue: find conclusion and premises to attack premises
o Umberto Eco
Chess: game of reason
A good paper should be like a game of chess that you already played and won
Win = conclusion
o Conjunctions (and, a bit,..)= plural
2. Lecture 2
Rule 2: develop your ideas in a ‘natural’ order (logical, reasonable)
o The conclusion gives context
Determines relevancy
o Eco’s chess metaphor
A game you played and won
How did you find every move?
Ideal audience: intelligent but uninformed
o Exclaim don’t proclaim
Ambiguity
Arbitrary
Inference
3. Lecture 3
Rule 3: start from reliable premises
o Fact
Reliable
Is best way, but rarely possible
o Plausible
Reliable
