Text Table of Contents #3:

What are the Issues and Conclusions?

This course will use the perspective of Argument

Thus, the object of inquiry – i.e., the object of critical evaluation – is an argument

Argument a list of statements presented by a speaker or a writer one of the statements is the conclusion  the other statements are the reasons, premises or

assumptions of the argument

◦An argument presumes an Issue

Issue - a question or controversy responsible for a discussion

Two types◦ Descriptive Issue – raises question about the

accuracy of descriptions of facts – past, present, future

◦ Prescriptive Issue - raises questions about what should be or what is right or wrong

Dihydrogen Monoxide ?

Conclusion ◦ Response to an issue◦ The point or message the speaker or writer wants you to

accept or believe as true

◦ Is inferred from (results from) the presentation of one or more reasons or premises Reasons / premises – statements or propositions presented to

support or justify a belief

A word about inference - induction vs. deduction Induction – results in probable conclusion Deduction results in certain conclusion

◦ Can not critically evaluate statement without a conclusion◦ Why?

Look for the Issue ◦ Conclusion answers the question posed by the issue

Indicator words◦ Consequently, therefore, thus, suggests, indicates, etc.

Likely locations ◦ Typically presented at the beginning / end of argument

Conclusion is NOT◦ An example, statistic, definition, evidence

Consider the context of the communicator◦ The person’s bias or agenda may be obvious

And Therefore…?◦ Conclusion may be implied – ask what is the point?

Corporate managers are always interested in techniques for

increasing the productivity of their workdays. One interesting

suggestion made by productivity consultants is to pipe music into

the work area. Several recent studies have explored the extent

to which different types of music affect worker output. The

primary hypothesis examined in the studies was that soft-rock

music would prove the greatest aid to productivity. The research

has found almost universally that country and western music is

the greatest inducement to efficiency. Therefore, corporate

officials should seriously consider playing country and western

music as a stimulus to worker productivity.