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Analyzing Arguments


Analysis   Breaking something up into its component parts in order to better understand it, 189
Arrow   a symbol (Æ) for the logical connective "if . . . then," 295; also, in argument diagramming, a symbol (Ø) for "therefore," 190
Baton Rouge Advocate, 210-211 (editorial), 214-215 (editorial)  
Beardsley, Charles A., 202 (marginal quote)  
Conclusion   The statement in an argument that the premises are claimed or intended to support, 25, 50; in argumentative essays, 438-439; main, 32-33; missing, 205-207; subconclusions, 33
Conditional statement   An "if...then" statement, 39--40, 196, 295--301
Enthymeme   An argument that contains an unstated premise or conclusion, 205--207
Independent premises   Premises that provide separate, freestanding support for a conclusion. More precisely, a premise is independent when the amount of support it provides for a conclusion would not be weakened or cancelled by the omission of any other premise in the argument, 190-192, 220, 545 n. 1
Linked premises   Premises that depend on one another to support a conclusion. More precisely, a premise is linked when the amount of support it provides for a conclusion would be weakened or cancelled by the omission of another premise in the argument, 190-192, 220, 545 n. 1
Paraphrase   A restatement of a passage using different words and phrases, 201, 220, 391--395
Principle of charity   A principle of interpretation that requires that unclear passages or arguments be interpreted in the way most favorable the speaker or writer, 41--42, 59-60, 203--204, 206, 291
Standardization   A method of summarizing extended arguments in which all the key steps in the argument are stated in standard logical form, 207--214
Standard logical form   An argument in which each step is numbered consecutively, premises are stated above the conclusions they are claimed to support, and justifications are provided for each conclusion in the argument, 207
Statement   A sentence that can sensibly be regarded as true or false, 25--26, 196, 213-214, 542 n. 1
Subconclusion   A subordinate or intermediate conclusion in an argument, 33, 208--209