Recommended Practice: Types of Arguments Handout #2
Indicate the type of argument found in each italicized and red passage:
1) Scientology has doubled its number of members over the last 30 years. It think it’s safe to say it’ll double its number of members over the next 30.
2) Actually, in 2001, 55,000 U.S. residents self-identified as Scientologists; and, in 2014, 20,000 self-identified as Scientologists. It follows that, in 2014 there are 30,000 fewer self-identified Scientologists in the U.S.A. than there were in 2001.
3) Well, I know Scientology is legally recognized as a religion in Sweden, Australia, Italy, United States of America, and South Africa. So I’m pretty sure it’s also legally recognized as a religion in most countries.
4) Either Scientologists believe each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan or Christian Scientists believe each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan. Christian Scientists don’t believe that. So Scientologists must believe it.
5) Either Scientologists believe in supernatural beings or it’s not a religion. It is a religion; so Scientologists believe in supernatural beings.
6) Johnny suffered from migraines until she started practicing Scientology. I think it’s fair to say Scientology made her migraines disappear.
7) If Karl believes each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan and that thetans fell from grace when they began to see themselves as individuals with bodies, then he’s a Scientologist; and Karl does believe each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan and that thetans fell from grace when they began to see themselves as individuals with bodies; so he’s a Scientologist.
8) If Karl believes each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan and that thetans fell from grace when they began to see themselves as individuals with bodies, then he’s a Scientologist. But Karl isn’t a Scientologist. So he doesn’t believe each individual’s true identity is a cosmic life force called a thetan and that thetans fell from grace when they began to see themselves as individuals with bodies.
9) No Scientologist also attends Christian churches. So, it’s safe to say Tom Cruise doesn’t attend a Christian church; since he’s a Scientologist.
10) It’s time to join Scientology; for it’s not some dusty old theory, but an innovative technology.
11) Most of my friends would ride a bike to school if Santa Rosa constructed a safe bike network. Therefore, I say most people would.
12) So, I'm either walking to school or riding my bike. So, I'm riding, since I don't have time to walk.
13) Oh, I know some dedicated cyclists are willing to ride their bike in the rain. Hence, I'm pretty sure Alexa is, since she's dedicated cyclist.
14) Well, on his first day, Dan cycled 53 miles from Tomales to San Francisco. Day #2 was 78 miles to Santa Cruz. Then he rode a remarkable 93 miles to Big Sur. Over the next four days he rode 280 miles to Ventura, CA.. Then he rode an amazing 332 miles -- most of it through desert -- over five days. It follows that he rode 836 miles before he reached Arizona.
15) Most of your friends think you should ride your bike to school, and, thus, you should.
16) I'm pretty sure Peter rode his bike because he had only thirty minutes to get to school; for he was going to walk until he noticed he had only thirty minutes to get there.
17) Um, when you think about it, riding a bike is similar to jogging. Both are good exercise, and they give you the time to enjoy your surroundings. So, I think you'll enjoy jogging, since you enjoy cycling.
18) I'm pretty sure Julie is going to meet her uncle when she rides a bike across the country, since she did the last time she rode across the country.
19) I just think Temo shouldn't ride a bike to the Sonoran Desert. It might be too risky for him.
20) Blane shouldn't ride his bike to Death Valley in August; since it's the hottest and driest place in the world.
21) If we're going to get a dog, let's get a Springer Spaniel.
22) I think he's going to get an Alaskan Malamute, since his family has had them for decades.
23) They only got a Poodle 'cause his mom moved into the house. Think about it. They were going to get an Irish Setter, then they announced his mom was moving into the house, and then they said they are getting a Poodle.
24) I'm telling you, Vivian would have moved out if they got a Great Dane; and she didn't move out. Therefore, they didn't get a Great Dane.
25) Now, hear me out. A Chow Chow is a cold weather dog; and so is a Labradoodle; and you liked living with a Labradoodle; so I think you'd like a Chow Chow.
26) You should get an Old English Sheepdog.
27) You should get a Jack Russell Terrier. They can jump high.
28) You should get Cairn Terrier. You like the movie Wizard of Oz.
29) Well, you can't get a North County Beagle if they're extinct; and they are; so you can't get one.
30) It's okay to get a dog. It's not like having a T Rex for a pet.
31) I got an A in the last three Philosophy classes I've taken. Therefore, I'm thinking I'll get an A in the next Philosophy class I take.
32) Oh, Daphne definitely gets A's in all of her classes, since she got an A in Chem 1A.
33) You have to do math in Physics. You have to do math in Engineering. Leslie got an A in her last Physics class; so I'm pretty sure she got an A in her last Engineering class.
34) You should take a Sociology class. You've never taken one.
35) I'll take an Anthropology class if you take it with me; but you won't take it with me. Therefore, I won't take an Anthropology class.
36) Nate: I earned a 2.00 GPA last Fall semester, and a 2.00 GPA last Spring semester. Hence, I earned a 4.00 GPA last year.
Katy: You calculate GPA by adding each semester.
37) I'm sure he failed his mid-term exam because he got a new job; for he he got the job two weeks before the exam; and then he failed the exam.
38) Some Philosophy major haven't taken Logic; and Karen is a Philosophy major. It follows that Karen hasn't taken Logic.
39) All of Leslie's friends think she shouldn't become a Philosophy major. That's seems like a good indication that she shouldn't.
40) In Krista's family, the oldest child has been majoring in Philosophy for the last four generations. It follows that she should, too.
41) I'm telling you, Jake missed class because his car broke down. He was driving to school until after his car broke down.
42) I'm pretty sure Jake missed class in order to work; for he skipped class and then went to work.
43) Jake's class goes from 10:30am until 12noon; and he was in the library then. So, I'm guessing he missed class because he had to study in the library.
44) Of course Jake dropped his Math class because he got a D on the mid-term. He dropped it the day after he got the D.
45) Well, Jake wasn't planning to take a summer class; and then he dropped his English class; and then he signed up for a summer class. Therefore, I think he signed up for the summer class because he dropped his English class.
46) Jake's boyfriend decided to take a summer class; and so that's probably why Jake is taking a summer class; since he wasn't going to take a summer class until after his boyfriend decided to take one.
47) Of course Jake got an A in his class because he studied 10 hours a week; for he studied ten hours a week and then he got an A.
48) Well, Jake didn't cheat on any of his Philosophy assignments; but he got an A on each of them. Therefore, he must have got an A because he studied 10 hours a week, since he did do that.
49) I think Jake got an A because he took the class with his brother. Last semester he took the same class without his brother and failed it; and this semester he took the class with his brother and got an A.
50) I think Jake will get an A in his Critical Thinking class; since he got an A in his last three Philosophy classes.