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8

Building Arguments

Arguing with your friends is one thing, but do you know how to build a logical argument? In this book you’ll discover how to use premises and inferences to reach conclusions, marshal evidence for your position, and ethically persuade the reader. Here is a quick overview of the types of arguments you will learn about.

Deductive arguments reason from a general premise to a specific case. General Rule to Specific Case

Inductive arguments reason from a specific case to a general conclusion. Specific Case to General Rule

Persuasive arguments appeal to readers’ needs.

Ethical persuasion fairly addresses needs like those below:

  • Physiological needs
  • Safety
  • Love and belonging
  • Esteem
  • Self-actualization

Avoiding Logical Fallacies

Of course, not all persuasion is ethical. You’ll learn to recognize the logical fallacies that are commonly used by individuals, organizations, and campaigns to influence your thinking. Recognizing these fallacies will help you think critically about the information you receive. Here are a few of the fallacies that you will learn about.

Logical Fallacies

Ad hoc reasoning

Ad hominem

Ad ignorantiam

Authority argument

Begging the question

Correlation as causation

False analogy

False cause

False continuum

False dichotomy

Genetic fallacy

Incredulity argument

Inconsistent criteria

Non sequitur

No true Scotsman

Red herring

Reductio ad absurdum

Slippery slope

Straw man

Tautology

Tu quoque

Your Turn

  1. Deductive arguments use a general rule to determine a specific case, while inductive arguments start with a specific case to determine a general rule. Why are both kinds of reasoning valuable?
  2. Think of commercials you have recently seen. What needs of the receiver do they target? Do the commercials fairly or unfairly appeal to those needs?
  3. Watch a debate on television or in person. Do the participants use logical appeals, emotional appeals, or both? What errors in logic do you notice?
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Additional Resources

PDF: Brown University, "Deductive Reasoning"

Web page: Inductive Reasoning

Web site: Crafting Effective Persuasive Arguments, U of CO, Boulder

Web page: Persuasive or argumentative essays