Introduction to Logical Thinking
Study Guide for Cumulative Final
You are responsible for the following concepts on your cumulative final; it is your responsibility to use
this guide as a study tool.
1.
What is critical thinking? What is its primary aim?
2.
The obstacles to critical thinking, including relativism, reliance on authority, wishful thinking,
egocentrism, enthnocentrism. You must be able to identify these as they occur in certain passages
on the test.
3.
What is an assumption?
4.
What is a claim?
5.
What is an argument, as it is defined in logic?
6.
The structural and functional definitions of ‘argument.’
7.
The difference between arguments and non-argumentative passages. You should be able to state
this.
8.
Argument identification (you will be given passages, and you will have to indicate whether or not
they are arguments)
9.
Premise; define and identify
10. Conclusion; define and identify
11. Argument analysis; define and complete
12. Argument skeletons
13. Must be able to identify supported premises, unsupported premises, and main conclusions, as well
as define these
14. You must be able to identify the missing parts of arguments.
15. Must be able to identify the following fallacies:
Slippery Slope
Black/White
Appeal to Physical Force
Tu Quoque
Appeal to Tradition
Guilt by Association
Appeal to Psychological Force
Appeal to Pity
Name calling (abusive ad hominem)
Appeal to Vanity
Bandwagon
Snobbery
Hasty Generalization
Misplaced Authority