Academic writing: WPO
1. WPO 1
Exercise set 1.1
o Sample:
Conclusion: (green)
▫ in order for a democracy to prosper, its citizens must get a liberal education.
Premise(s): (yellow)
▫ In order to prosper, a democracy needs its citizens to be able to carry out
their responsibilities competently
▫ Being a competent citizen requires familiarity with the basics of math,
natural science, social science, history, and literature, as well as the ability to
read and write well and the ability to think critically
▫ A liberal education is essential to developing these skills
Conclusion indicator: therefore (blue)
o Ex 1
Conclusion
▫ segregation is morally wrong
Premise(s)
▫ Racial segregation reduces some persons to the status of things
Conclusion indicator:
▫ Hence
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 2
Conclusion
▫ the dead sea turtle was probably caught in a net
Premise(s)
▫ Dr. Stacy found shrimp in the turtle’s throat
▫ Sea turtles can only catch shrimp if the turtles are stuck in nets with the
shrimp
Conclusion indicator:
▫ Therefore
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 3
Conclusion
▫ People with egg allergies shouldn’t get the yellow fever vaccine, though
Premise(s)
▫ some part of the vaccine is grown inside eggs
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ because
o Ex 4
Conclusion
▫ we must resort to force only when we cannot settle matters by discussion.
, Premise(s)
▫ the first way is appropriate for human beings and the second way appropriate
for animals
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ Since
o Ex 5
Conclusion
▫ The molecules are not dangerous for the patient
Premise(s)
▫ they break down within a few minutes, before they can do any damage
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ Because
o Ex 6: will come on exam!!
Conclusion
▫ if you ever meet a man who is missing the top joint of his little finger, you
should be very careful
Premise(s)
▫ The head of the spy ring is very dangerous.
▫ But there is one thing he cannot disguise: he is missing the tip of his little
finger
Conclusion indicator:
▫ So
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 7
Conclusion
▫ That’s a waste of money
Premise(s)
▫ it’s easy to make a college degree on your computer
▫ a degree that you make yourself is just as good as a degree that you bought
on the Internet.
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ since
o Ex 8: will come on exam!!
Conclusion
▫ the American colonists have a right to rebel against the king of Great Britain.
Premise(s)
▫ People are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights
▫ Governments exist to protect those rights
▫ When a government violates those rights, people have a right to rebel against
that government and create a new one
1. WPO 1
Exercise set 1.1
o Sample:
Conclusion: (green)
▫ in order for a democracy to prosper, its citizens must get a liberal education.
Premise(s): (yellow)
▫ In order to prosper, a democracy needs its citizens to be able to carry out
their responsibilities competently
▫ Being a competent citizen requires familiarity with the basics of math,
natural science, social science, history, and literature, as well as the ability to
read and write well and the ability to think critically
▫ A liberal education is essential to developing these skills
Conclusion indicator: therefore (blue)
o Ex 1
Conclusion
▫ segregation is morally wrong
Premise(s)
▫ Racial segregation reduces some persons to the status of things
Conclusion indicator:
▫ Hence
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 2
Conclusion
▫ the dead sea turtle was probably caught in a net
Premise(s)
▫ Dr. Stacy found shrimp in the turtle’s throat
▫ Sea turtles can only catch shrimp if the turtles are stuck in nets with the
shrimp
Conclusion indicator:
▫ Therefore
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 3
Conclusion
▫ People with egg allergies shouldn’t get the yellow fever vaccine, though
Premise(s)
▫ some part of the vaccine is grown inside eggs
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ because
o Ex 4
Conclusion
▫ we must resort to force only when we cannot settle matters by discussion.
, Premise(s)
▫ the first way is appropriate for human beings and the second way appropriate
for animals
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ Since
o Ex 5
Conclusion
▫ The molecules are not dangerous for the patient
Premise(s)
▫ they break down within a few minutes, before they can do any damage
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ Because
o Ex 6: will come on exam!!
Conclusion
▫ if you ever meet a man who is missing the top joint of his little finger, you
should be very careful
Premise(s)
▫ The head of the spy ring is very dangerous.
▫ But there is one thing he cannot disguise: he is missing the tip of his little
finger
Conclusion indicator:
▫ So
Premise indicator:
▫ /
o Ex 7
Conclusion
▫ That’s a waste of money
Premise(s)
▫ it’s easy to make a college degree on your computer
▫ a degree that you make yourself is just as good as a degree that you bought
on the Internet.
Conclusion indicator:
▫ /
Premise indicator:
▫ since
o Ex 8: will come on exam!!
Conclusion
▫ the American colonists have a right to rebel against the king of Great Britain.
Premise(s)
▫ People are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights
▫ Governments exist to protect those rights
▫ When a government violates those rights, people have a right to rebel against
that government and create a new one
