BM1102 Critical Analysis for Business
Clarifying Arguments
Identifying arguments
Types of information
reasoning: the act of thinking about things in a logical way - links a premise and a
conclusion tgt
• because, hence, based on, given that
• two types in which reasoning is present
o arguments: an attempt to persuade someone through reasoning that they
should agree with a particular conclusion
o arguments are conclusions based on premises that should be based on facts
premise: a claim presented to support this conclusion
conclusion: final point that someone making an argument is trying to
convince you of
keywords: thus, therefore, which means, which shows
spot an argument by searching for a conclusion
most convincing arguments contain premises that are based on facts
facts are very viable and based on evidence
o explanations: an inversion of an argument, reasoning backwards from sth that is
assumed to be true
• elaborate on a point: no attempt to evaluate, sole purpose is to clarify, illustrate,
describe or inform
o clarifications, illustrations, descriptions, summaries
• both present a person's POV without presenting any sort of reasoning
o opinions: personal judgement often based on a person's instinctive reactions
and personal experiences rather than facts
changeable
o beliefs: personal conviction based on cultural and/or personal faith, morality and
values
Listing Arguments
• Explicit premise: " ... "
• Assumption (Implicit Premise): ...
• Intermediate conclusion: " ... "
• Conclusion: ...
,first identify conclusion then premises
Reconstructing arguments in standard form
standard form means rewriting an argument so that
1. the conclusion is set out clearly at the bottom
2. the reasoning leading to the conclusion is set out clearly above it in the form of
numbered premises
Spot premises and conclusion
premise: a claim presented by an argument in support of its conclusion
intermediate conclusion: a conclusion arrived at during the course of an argument; it is then
used as a premise for building towards the final conclusion
conclusion: the final proposition in any argument, supported by its premises
• an argument can have many premises but it can have only one conclusion
• the conclusion of one argument can form the premise of another
• what defines a conclusion is simply its place at the end of an argument
extraneous (material): info that is not relevant to the argument and should be left out as we
carefully clarify each premise and conclusion by rewriting them
1. Apply the principle of charity
2. Identify the final conclusion ( and write it down at the
bottom)
o What is the author ultimately trying to prove?
o What is the message you are expected to take away from reading this?
o Is a final decision, verdict or recommendation being offered?
o Is a particular point being repeated or emphasized?
3. Identify the explicit premises (and write them down in
the order above)
explicit premises: all the claims that someone has set out in support of their conclusion
o Work backwards from the conclusion: what are the key points that support it?
, o Ignore emotion and repetition
o The most basic fact or assertion can be a premise: ask, is it just there to provide a
background piece of content, or is it actively used to build up the author's case?
4. Identify the implicit premises (and insert them where
they are needed)
implicit premises: are not spelled out by the person stating an argument, but are assumed as
part of their reasoning and need to be included in reconstruction
o moving too simplistically?
o one thing being the cause of another when, in fact, this is not obviously true?
o beliefs?
o future must follow the same pattern as the past without providing evidence or
considering differences in circumstances?
5. Distinguish between linked and independent premises
linked premises: support a conclusion, when taken together but not individually
an argument using them fails if even one linked premise is faulty
if both X and Y then Z
independent premises: support a conclusion individually and don't rely upon each other
reinforce one another, but ,although an argument is weakened if
one or more is faulty, it does not automatically fail
if X, then perhaps Z; if Y then perhaps Z
o which premises must be taken together in order to support a conclusion (linked)
and
o which premises support a conclusion without relying on any others
(independent)
Reconstructing extended arguments
: an argument whose final conclusion is supported by one or more premises that are
themselves intermediate conclusions, supported by previous premises
Spell out assumptions
assumption: sth relevant to an argument that has been taken for granted by the person
presenting it, rather than spelled out
Clarifying Arguments
Identifying arguments
Types of information
reasoning: the act of thinking about things in a logical way - links a premise and a
conclusion tgt
• because, hence, based on, given that
• two types in which reasoning is present
o arguments: an attempt to persuade someone through reasoning that they
should agree with a particular conclusion
o arguments are conclusions based on premises that should be based on facts
premise: a claim presented to support this conclusion
conclusion: final point that someone making an argument is trying to
convince you of
keywords: thus, therefore, which means, which shows
spot an argument by searching for a conclusion
most convincing arguments contain premises that are based on facts
facts are very viable and based on evidence
o explanations: an inversion of an argument, reasoning backwards from sth that is
assumed to be true
• elaborate on a point: no attempt to evaluate, sole purpose is to clarify, illustrate,
describe or inform
o clarifications, illustrations, descriptions, summaries
• both present a person's POV without presenting any sort of reasoning
o opinions: personal judgement often based on a person's instinctive reactions
and personal experiences rather than facts
changeable
o beliefs: personal conviction based on cultural and/or personal faith, morality and
values
Listing Arguments
• Explicit premise: " ... "
• Assumption (Implicit Premise): ...
• Intermediate conclusion: " ... "
• Conclusion: ...
,first identify conclusion then premises
Reconstructing arguments in standard form
standard form means rewriting an argument so that
1. the conclusion is set out clearly at the bottom
2. the reasoning leading to the conclusion is set out clearly above it in the form of
numbered premises
Spot premises and conclusion
premise: a claim presented by an argument in support of its conclusion
intermediate conclusion: a conclusion arrived at during the course of an argument; it is then
used as a premise for building towards the final conclusion
conclusion: the final proposition in any argument, supported by its premises
• an argument can have many premises but it can have only one conclusion
• the conclusion of one argument can form the premise of another
• what defines a conclusion is simply its place at the end of an argument
extraneous (material): info that is not relevant to the argument and should be left out as we
carefully clarify each premise and conclusion by rewriting them
1. Apply the principle of charity
2. Identify the final conclusion ( and write it down at the
bottom)
o What is the author ultimately trying to prove?
o What is the message you are expected to take away from reading this?
o Is a final decision, verdict or recommendation being offered?
o Is a particular point being repeated or emphasized?
3. Identify the explicit premises (and write them down in
the order above)
explicit premises: all the claims that someone has set out in support of their conclusion
o Work backwards from the conclusion: what are the key points that support it?
, o Ignore emotion and repetition
o The most basic fact or assertion can be a premise: ask, is it just there to provide a
background piece of content, or is it actively used to build up the author's case?
4. Identify the implicit premises (and insert them where
they are needed)
implicit premises: are not spelled out by the person stating an argument, but are assumed as
part of their reasoning and need to be included in reconstruction
o moving too simplistically?
o one thing being the cause of another when, in fact, this is not obviously true?
o beliefs?
o future must follow the same pattern as the past without providing evidence or
considering differences in circumstances?
5. Distinguish between linked and independent premises
linked premises: support a conclusion, when taken together but not individually
an argument using them fails if even one linked premise is faulty
if both X and Y then Z
independent premises: support a conclusion individually and don't rely upon each other
reinforce one another, but ,although an argument is weakened if
one or more is faulty, it does not automatically fail
if X, then perhaps Z; if Y then perhaps Z
o which premises must be taken together in order to support a conclusion (linked)
and
o which premises support a conclusion without relying on any others
(independent)
Reconstructing extended arguments
: an argument whose final conclusion is supported by one or more premises that are
themselves intermediate conclusions, supported by previous premises
Spell out assumptions
assumption: sth relevant to an argument that has been taken for granted by the person
presenting it, rather than spelled out
