Name:____________________________
Exam 1
Section 1:
Define the following (given the meanings used in our class):
1. Argument
2. Validity
3. Soundness
4. Strength
5. Cogency
Section 2:
Determine if the following passage contains an argument. If so, then give the premises and
conclusion(s). If not, then explain what sort of passage it is.
1. Hundreds of thousands of recent college graduates today cannot express themselves with
the written word. Why? Because universities have shortchanged them, offering strange
literary theories, Marxism, deconstruction, and other oddities in disguise of writing
courses.
2. If you marry without love, it does not mean you will no later come to love the person you
marry. And if you marry the person you love, it does not mean that you will always love
that person or have a successful marriage. The divorce rate is very low in countries that
have prearranged marriage. The divorce rate is very high in countries where people base
their marriage decisions on love.
3. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the
powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of
Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
4. Poetry, indeed, cannot be translated, and therefore it is the poets who preserve languages;
for we would not be at all the trouble to learn a language when we can have all that is
written in it just as well in translation. But, as we cannot have the beauties of poetry but
in its original language, we learn it.
5. No one punishes because a sin was committed, but in order that a sin will not be
committed. For what has passed cannot be recalled, but what lies in the future may be
prevented.
Section 3:
Given an argument, determine the following: is it deductive or inductive. If deductive whether
valid or invalid, and if inductive whether strong or weak. Then briefly explain your answer.
1. Vietnam was before the Korean War, and the Korean War was before the SpanishAmerican War. Since the Spanish-American War was in 1991, it follows that Vietnam
was before the Spanish-American War.
2. If Jones went to the store for milk, then Smith stayed at home to cook the steaks. If
Smith stayed at home to cook the steaks, then Sue brought the corn for dinner. Hence,
either Jones did not go to the store for milk or Sue brought the corn for dinner.
3. Willie was late on Monday and late on Tuesday. We shouldn’t expect him to be on time
today.
4. Studies of the lowland gorilla in zoos have revealed virtually no cases of aggressive
behavior. We can conclude that the gorilla is generally a nonaggressive beast.
5. There is no water at all in the desert and all deserts have population centers of more than
250,000 people. A city is big only if it has 250,000 people or more that reside in it. And,
since Mayo is a big city, it follows that there is no water at all in Mayo.
Section 4:
Reconstruct and diagram the following arguments. I’ve numbered the propositions for you.
Determine which are in the argument below and show the relations between all premises and
conclusion. Be clear about which number refers to which premise/conclusion.
1. I saw Professor Plum leave the study before we got there [1], so he must have been the
last to see Mr. Body alive [2]. We all know that Plum hated body [3], and he had a
weapon on him earlier [4]. So, it’s clear that Plum is the murderer [5]. We must arrest
him [6].
2. I saw it raining earlier this morning [1]. And, if it’s true that there’s a good chance of
rain today, I’ll bring my umbrella to school [2]. That means that I should put my
umbrella in my book bag [3].
3. You’ll turn Jones in if it is the right thing to do [1]. And you want to do the right thing,
don’t you [2]? You should also know that there’s a lot of evidence against him [3] and
he has no alibi [4]. So, any jury would convict him [5]. Clearly, then, he’ll be in prison
for a long time [6].
4. I like to see Clutch whenever tickets are reasonable [1]. My friend, Charlie, can get me
tickets for free [2]. And you know that I don’t have class on Friday [3], so I’ll be free
[4]. So, I’ll be seeing Clutch this Friday [5].
5. Studying is very important [1]. Some classes are so difficulty that you must study if you
are to make a good grade [2]. And, of course, we all want to make good grades [3]. But,
studying also helps you become more disciplined and focused upon your tasks [4], since
studying requires a good deal of time doing something unpleasant [5]. So, you should
study for every exam that you have [6].