In class today, my professor kept saying that it's important to identify and question the assumptions of other people's arguments. I'm not clear on why this is so important, though. Do you know?
What would you say to help this student?
- Identifying and questioning others' assumptions can reveal the qualifiers their argument uses.
- Identifying and questioning others' assumptions can reveal flaws in their arguments.
- Identifying and questioning others' assumptions can reveal the rhetorical appeals they are using.
Directions: Examine each set of claims and grounds and then indicate which statement expresses the assumption that connects them.
Claim: Students should be required to learn how to write computer code.
Grounds: Many jobs now require an in-depth understanding of technology.
Which statement expresses the underlying assumption that connects the claim and the grounds?
- It is desirable to ensure that students know how to write code.
- It is desirable that everyone gets a job developing software.
- It is desirable for students to develop easily marketable job skills.