COMM 114 Midterm Study Guide with
Complete Solutions
- ILL (the problem -Stock Issues) - ANSWER-o What is the problem or "ill" in the current
system?
o Must be significant
o Quantitative Significance
o Qualitative Significance
Advocate to analyze the proposition by considering the inadequacies or problems in the
existing system.
(Aristotle) What is artistic proof?
(Chapter 7 ) - ANSWER-- Support for a claim that
originates with the advocate.
-Artistic proof consists of reasoning, analysis,
inspiration and/or creativity on the part of the
advocate (speaker).
- Artistic proof is constructed: we create the
evidence.
Arguments that the speaker must invent.
Ex. Definition, comparison, relationships, circumstances, testimony, notation and
conjugates.
(Aristotle) What is inartistic proof?
(Chapter 7 ) - ANSWER-Support for a claim that originates with someone other than the
advocate.
Inartistic proof consists of common knowledge,
shared experience or physical evidence.
Inartistic proof is cited: we deploy/use the evidence of others.
Arguments that use quoting what others have said.
Ex. Laws, witnesses, contracts, or oaths.
(Brockriede) What is argument?
,(Chapters 1 and 2) - ANSWER-A process where people reason their way from one set
of problematic ideas to the choice of another.
o Professor Wayne Brockriede proposed the following characteristics of argument:
-- 1. An inferential leap from existing beliefs to the adoption/or reinforcement of a belief.
-- 2. A perceived rationale to support that leap.
-- 3. A choice among two or more competing claims.
-- 4. Reduction or regulation of uncertainty.
-- 5. A willingness to risk confrontation of one's claim with others.
-- 6. A common frame of reference shared optimally
(Brockriede) Where is argument?
(Chapters 1 and 2) - ANSWER-o Professor Brockriede asked "where do we find
argument?"
-- 1. People will find arguments where they find other people.
-- 2. Argument is not simply a "thing" to be looked at but a concept people use and a
perspective they take.
-- 3. Argument is an open concept.
-- 4. Argument is potentially everywhere.
-- 5. Argument is a process whereby people reason their way from one set of
problematic ideas to their choice of another
(Reasoning patterns) What is deductive reasoning? (CH. 6)
(top) theory
hypothesis
observation
(bottom) confirmation
(Broad --> Specific) - ANSWER-Moving from accepted principles or truths to a specific
case
Moving from overall theories or generally accepted principles to conclusions about
specific cases.
Ex. All birds have feathers and robins are birds, so robins have feathers.
(Reasoning patterns) What is Inductive reasoning? (CH. 6)
(Specific --> broad)
(top) Information
pattern
tentative hypothesis
, (bottom) theory - ANSWER-Arguing from a specific example to a general conclusion
Described as arguing from specific cases to more general conclusions.
Ex. All chickens that we have seen have been brown; so, all chickens are brown.
(Types of evidence) What are examples? (CH. 7)
Analogical: a comparable situation
Evidence as...
"support... from experience"
When using personal experience, take
the following into account:
1) Is it experience rather than opinion?
2) Is the experience directly relevant?
3) Does it highlight something not covered in other
sources?
4) Is it generalizable through other forms of proof? - ANSWER-Specific instances or
occurrences of a given phenomenon.
Ex. Can be detailed or cursory. Can use artistic or inartistic proof.
(Types of evidence) What are premises? (CH. 7)
Anecdotal: based on a persons observations of the world
An established point of agreement between the
advocate and audience.
A point accepted without the requirement of
additional support.
A claim that is accepted by an audience and can
therefore be used as one uses evidence.
BASIS: Personal Knowledge - Firsthand experience that serves as evidence.
BASIS: Cultural Knowledge - shared
values and shared truth common to a
culture/group. - ANSWER-A point/s accepted without requirement of additional support.
Ex. Personal knowledge is true because we have firsthand experience.
(Types of evidence) What are statistics? (CH. 7)
Complete Solutions
- ILL (the problem -Stock Issues) - ANSWER-o What is the problem or "ill" in the current
system?
o Must be significant
o Quantitative Significance
o Qualitative Significance
Advocate to analyze the proposition by considering the inadequacies or problems in the
existing system.
(Aristotle) What is artistic proof?
(Chapter 7 ) - ANSWER-- Support for a claim that
originates with the advocate.
-Artistic proof consists of reasoning, analysis,
inspiration and/or creativity on the part of the
advocate (speaker).
- Artistic proof is constructed: we create the
evidence.
Arguments that the speaker must invent.
Ex. Definition, comparison, relationships, circumstances, testimony, notation and
conjugates.
(Aristotle) What is inartistic proof?
(Chapter 7 ) - ANSWER-Support for a claim that originates with someone other than the
advocate.
Inartistic proof consists of common knowledge,
shared experience or physical evidence.
Inartistic proof is cited: we deploy/use the evidence of others.
Arguments that use quoting what others have said.
Ex. Laws, witnesses, contracts, or oaths.
(Brockriede) What is argument?
,(Chapters 1 and 2) - ANSWER-A process where people reason their way from one set
of problematic ideas to the choice of another.
o Professor Wayne Brockriede proposed the following characteristics of argument:
-- 1. An inferential leap from existing beliefs to the adoption/or reinforcement of a belief.
-- 2. A perceived rationale to support that leap.
-- 3. A choice among two or more competing claims.
-- 4. Reduction or regulation of uncertainty.
-- 5. A willingness to risk confrontation of one's claim with others.
-- 6. A common frame of reference shared optimally
(Brockriede) Where is argument?
(Chapters 1 and 2) - ANSWER-o Professor Brockriede asked "where do we find
argument?"
-- 1. People will find arguments where they find other people.
-- 2. Argument is not simply a "thing" to be looked at but a concept people use and a
perspective they take.
-- 3. Argument is an open concept.
-- 4. Argument is potentially everywhere.
-- 5. Argument is a process whereby people reason their way from one set of
problematic ideas to their choice of another
(Reasoning patterns) What is deductive reasoning? (CH. 6)
(top) theory
hypothesis
observation
(bottom) confirmation
(Broad --> Specific) - ANSWER-Moving from accepted principles or truths to a specific
case
Moving from overall theories or generally accepted principles to conclusions about
specific cases.
Ex. All birds have feathers and robins are birds, so robins have feathers.
(Reasoning patterns) What is Inductive reasoning? (CH. 6)
(Specific --> broad)
(top) Information
pattern
tentative hypothesis
, (bottom) theory - ANSWER-Arguing from a specific example to a general conclusion
Described as arguing from specific cases to more general conclusions.
Ex. All chickens that we have seen have been brown; so, all chickens are brown.
(Types of evidence) What are examples? (CH. 7)
Analogical: a comparable situation
Evidence as...
"support... from experience"
When using personal experience, take
the following into account:
1) Is it experience rather than opinion?
2) Is the experience directly relevant?
3) Does it highlight something not covered in other
sources?
4) Is it generalizable through other forms of proof? - ANSWER-Specific instances or
occurrences of a given phenomenon.
Ex. Can be detailed or cursory. Can use artistic or inartistic proof.
(Types of evidence) What are premises? (CH. 7)
Anecdotal: based on a persons observations of the world
An established point of agreement between the
advocate and audience.
A point accepted without the requirement of
additional support.
A claim that is accepted by an audience and can
therefore be used as one uses evidence.
BASIS: Personal Knowledge - Firsthand experience that serves as evidence.
BASIS: Cultural Knowledge - shared
values and shared truth common to a
culture/group. - ANSWER-A point/s accepted without requirement of additional support.
Ex. Personal knowledge is true because we have firsthand experience.
(Types of evidence) What are statistics? (CH. 7)
