Breaking Down the Argument
Step 1: Identify the conclusion
Step 2: Identify the given premises
Step 3: Identify the implied premises

Breaking Down the Argument
Step 1: Identify the conclusion.
• Words like hence, thus, so, and therefore signal the conclusion.
• Words like because or since signal premises.
No reptiles have fur, and since all snakes are reptiles it follows that no snakes have fur
Conclusion=
Eat your peas because they are good for you.
Conclusion=

Breaking Down the Argument
Step 1: Identify the conclusion.
• Words like hence, thus, so, and therefore signal the conclusion.
• Words like because or since signal premises.
No reptiles have fur, and since all snakes are reptiles it follows that no snakes have fur
Conclusion= No snakes have fur
Eat your peas because they are good for you.
Conclusion= You should eat your peas .

Step 1: Identify the Conclusion
The student did not do the homework, therefore he is lazy.
Conclusion=
Bill must be a basketball player because he is tall.
Conclusion=
You’re a vegetarian? You do realize that Hitler was a vegetarian, too?
Conclusion=
Dan White ate a lot of Twinkies and then killed the
Mayor of San Francisco. If I were a mayor, I’d ban
Twinkies so no one would kill me.
Conclusion=

Step 1: Identify the Conclusion
The student did not do the homework, therefore he is lazy.
Conclusion= He is lazy
Bill must be a basketball player because he is tall.
Conclusion= Basketball players are tall
You’re a vegetarian? You do realize that Hitler was a vegetarian, too?
Conclusion= You shouldn’t be a vegetarian
Dan White ate a lot of Twinkies and then killed the
Mayor of San Francisco. If I were a mayor, I’d ban
Twinkies so no one would kill me.
Conclusion= Twinkies cause people to commit murder.

Identify the Conclusion
M A
Men are statistically more aggressive than
I
women. Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.
Syllogism
Major premise:
Argument Form
Minor premise:
Conclusion:

Fill in the Argument Form and Syllogism
M A
Men are statistically more aggressive than
I
women. Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.
Syllogism
Major premise:
Argument Form
Minor premise:
Conclusion: I is A Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.

Breaking Down the Argument
Step 1: Identify the conclusion
Step 2: Identify the Major and
Minor premises
Step 3: Identify the implied premises

Step 2: Identify the premises.
• The major premise is the claim that contains the predicate of the conclusion (the verb and ending)
M A
Men are statistically more aggressive than women. Therefore,
I
I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female
Argument Form
Major premise:
Syllogism
Men are statistically more aggressive than women
Minor premise:
Conclusion: Therefore; I is A
Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female .

Step 2: Identify the premises.
• The minor premise is the claim that contains the subject of the conclusion (the “doer” of the verb)
M A
Men are statistically more aggressive than women. Therefore,
I
I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.
Argument Form
Major premise: M is A
Minor premise:
Syllogism
Men are statistically more aggressive than women
I am a man
Conclusion: Therefore; I is A
Therefore, I, a male , must be more aggressive than you, a female.

Fill in the Argument Form and Syllogism
M A
Men are statistically more aggressive than
I
women. Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.
Argument Form
Major premise: M is A
Minor premise: I is M
Syllogism
Men are statistically more aggressive than women
I am a male
Conclusion: Therefore; I is A
Therefore, I, a male, must be more aggressive than you, a female.

What’s the conclusion?
If those protesters really loved their country, then they wouldn’t question their government.
Major premise:
Argument Form
Minor premise:
Conclusion:
Syllogism

What’s the Major Premise?
P L
If those protesters really loved their country , they wouldn’t question their government .
Q
Major premise:
Argument Form Syllogism
Minor premise:
Conclusion: Those protesters do not love their country

What’s the Minor Premise?
P L
If those protesters really loved their country , they wouldn’t question their government .
Q
Argument Form Syllogism
Major premise: If L then not Q
Minor premise:
If you loved your government you would not question it.
Conclusion: Therefore, P do not L
Those protesters do not love their country

P L
If those protesters really loved their country , they wouldn’t question their government .
Q
Argument Form
Major premise:
Minor premise:
If L then not Q
P is Q
Conclusion: Therefore, P is not L
If you loved your government you would not question it.
Those protestors are questioning their government
Those protesters do not love their country

Complete the Chart Below
Coal does not exist in infinite supply because it is a non-renewable resource.
Major premise:
Argument Form
Minor premise:
Conclusion:
Syllogism

Fill in the Argument Form and Syllogism
C E
Coal does not exist in infinite supply because it is a non-renewable resource.
N
Major premise:
Argument Form Syllogism
Minor premise:
Conclusion: therefore all
C does not E
Coal does not exist in infinite supply

Fill in the Argument Form and Syllogism
C E
Coal does not exist in infinite supply because it is a non-renewable resource.
N
Argument Form Syllogism
Major premise: N do not E All non-renewable resources do not exist in infinite supply
Minor premise: C is N Coal is a non-renewable resource
Conclusion: therefore all
C does not E
Coal does not exist in infinite supply