Identify which of the following sentences expresses an...

Identify which of the following sentences expresses an argument. For each that does, (1) circle the argument marker (or markers), (2) indicate whether it is a reason marker or a conclusion marker, and (3) restate the argument in standard form. 1. Since Chicago is north of Boston, and Boston is north of Charleston, Chicago is north of Charleston. 2. Toward evening, clouds formed and the sky grew darker; then the storm broke. 3. Texas has a greater area than Topeka, and Topeka has a greater area than the Bronx Zoo, so Texas has a greater area than the Bronx Zoo. 4. Both houses of Congress may pass a bill, but the president may still veto it. 5. Other airlines will carry more passengers, because United Airlines is on strike. 6. Since Jesse James left town, taking his gang with him, things have been a lot quieter. 7. Things are a lot quieter, because Jesse James left town, taking his gang with him. 8. Witches float because witches are made of wood, and wood floats. 9. The hour is up, so you must hand in your exams. 10. Joe quit, because his boss was giving him so much grief.

Identify which of the following sentences expresses an argument. For each that does, (1) circle the argument marker (or markers), (2) indicate whether it is a reason marker or a conclusion marker, and (3) restate the argument in standard form.
1. Since Chicago is north of Boston, and Boston is north of Charleston, Chicago is north of Charleston.
2. Toward evening, clouds formed and the sky grew darker; then the storm broke.
3. Texas has a greater area than Topeka, and Topeka has a greater area than the Bronx Zoo, so Texas has a greater area than the Bronx Zoo.
4. Both houses of Congress may pass a bill, but the president may still veto it.
5. Other airlines will carry more passengers, because United Airlines is on strike.
6. Since Jesse James left town, taking his gang with him, things have been a lot quieter.
7. Things are a lot quieter, because Jesse James left town, taking his gang with him.
8. Witches float because witches are made of wood, and wood floats.
9. The hour is up, so you must hand in your exams.
10. Joe quit, because his boss was giving him so much grief.

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Key Concepts

Argument

An argument is a set of statements where one or more premises support a conclusion. It is a basic structure in reasoning, with the aim of proving or justifying a claim by presenting supporting information.

Premise

Premises are the supporting statements or reasons presented in an argument that provide evidence or rationale for the conclusion. They are the building blocks that underpin the main claim.

Conclusion

A conclusion is the claim in an argument that the premises are intended to support or prove. It is the end point of the reasoning process, often indicated by specific linguistic markers.

Reason Marker

A reason marker is a word or phrase, such as 'because' or 'since', that introduces a premise or justification in an argument. It signals the basis on which the speaker is building their case.

Conclusion Marker

A conclusion marker is a word or phrase, such as 'so' or 'therefore', that indicates the statement following it is the conclusion of the argument. It helps in distinguishing the claim being supported from the supporting details.

Standard Form

Restating an argument in standard form involves reformatting it to explicitly list the premises followed by the conclusion. This clear structure aids in evaluating the logical connections and overall validity of the argument.

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