TC CHAPTER 10:
CONSTRUCTING ARGUMENTS
Cue words
• Page 420
• Cue words signaling
reasons
• Cue words signaling
conclusions
• Define
• Argument—a form of thinking in
which reasons are used to form
conclusions
• Reasons--statements that
support, justify, or increase the
probability or likelihood of other
statements
• Conclusion—a statement that
explains, asserts, or predicts on
the basis of reasons
Socratic syllogism:
Application of a general rule
• All a are b
• X is an a.
• Therefore, x is b.
• You must be this tall to
ride.
• You are this tall <
• You cannot ride.
Modus ponens
• Affirming the
If the moon is right, I will
antecedent; the way
plan on planting
that affirms by affirming
tomorrow.
The moon is right,
• If a, then b.
Therefore I will plan on
planting tomorrow.
• .a. . . .
• . Therefore b!
Modus tollens
Denying the consequence;
The way that denies by
denying
If a, then b.
Not b!
Therefore, not a! Ack!
• If I am the hillside
strangler, then I strangle
people on the hillside.
• I have no upper body
strength and severe
vertigo.
• Therefore, I am not the
hillside strangler.
Modus tollendo ponens:
the Disjunctive syllogism
• A is either b or c
• A is not c
• Therefore a is b
• A is b or c
• c.
• Therefore, not b.
• I am either good or bad.
• I am not always good,
• Therefore I am bad.
See pg 436 for examples from our
journals.
• Test next week; focus
on Kant from Chapter 9
and evaluating
arguments from
chapter 10.
• There will be one
course-summative
question.
• You will need your
book!
12 Angry Men
• The movie was originally a play.
In the play, twelve men, selected
for a jury, are asked to judge the
guilt or innocence of a young man
accused of murdering his father.
Throughout the course of the
movie, the jurors discuss
evidence and motive. You can
see certain jurors begin to “think
critically” as one member
encourages them to think for
themselves.
• On the next page is a diagram of
the jurors seated around the
table in the jury room. The
diagram may help orient you to
the seating arrangement. None
of the jurors are given names.
Next week, turn in the answers to
the questions that follow as ¼ of
your exam grade.
•
SUPPORT ALL ANSWERS WITH
EXAMPLES FROM THE FILM.
•
1. Which character is the best critical
thinker?
2. Which character is the worst
critical thinker? Support your
reasoning by referring to at least one
specific example from the play.
•
4. At what point do any TWO of the
jurors become critical thinkers (Do
not choose the juror you discussed in
question #1.) Specifically, what
happens to make each one think
critically?
3. What perceptions or obstacles
prevent any other TWO jurors from
thinking critically (Do not choose the
juror you discussed in question #2.)
•
5. How does the film’s “look” change
as the plot thickens, and how does
this inform your reaction?
•
•
Door
JURY ROOM, 12 ANGRY MEN (by Reginald Rose)
1. Foreman, 35, small, petty
Football Coach
12. Advertising man, 30
Doodler, snob
_____________________
2. Squeaky, 38, Bank
Clerk, Meek
__________________
T
11. immigrant, 48
3. Angry Man, 40,
A
Humble, suffered injustices
Highly prejudiced
(Lee J. Cobb)
B
10. Bigot, 46
Comes to quick decisions
(Ed Bagley)
4. Retired Man, 50
Stockbroker, rational
(EC Marshall)
L
9. Old Man, 70
Mild, gentle, has all
his faculties
5. Mechanic, 25
Baltimore, grew up in
slum (Jack Klugman)
E
8. Our Hero, 42, Architect
Mysterious, charismatic, dark &
moody, used to power
(Henry Fonda)
6. Everyman, 33,
decent, housepainter
not used to making
decisions
7. Mr. Baseball, 42 loud, flashy, short tempered;