DEDUCTIVE REASONINGBy Kari Fowler

WHAT IS DEDUCTIVE REASONING?

Opposite of Inductive Reasoning

In Deductive Reasoning you are taking something general and applying it to a specific instance.

3 Steps to Deductive Reasoning 1) Take a general true conclusion 2) Apply the conclusion to a specific instances to

demonstrate….. 3) The conclusion does indeed apply to the

instance

TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Terms that you must use to argue deductively, Most, many, often etc. Absolute Terms: never use words like, all, never or

always.

CHAPTER EXAMPLE

Susan B. Anthony defended that fact that she had voted in the 1872 election- forty-eight years before women were given the right to vote.

She claims she committed no crime but simply exercised her citizen’s rights.

For support she commented on the preamble of the Federal Constitution.

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice…..and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

DID YOU CATCH THAT!?!

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice…..and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The Preamble states that “We the people,” not we the male citizens.

We the people as in meaning both male and female.

TWO TESTS FOR DEDUCTIVE REASONING

First Test: Make sure it is valid. If it isn’t then it can’t be applied to specific instances. Needs factual support.

Second Test: Whether the generalization applies to a particular case.

EXAMPLES

Frogs are amphibians The Coqui is a frog native to Puerto Rico The Coqui is an amphibian.

May I Have a Volunteer??????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJyuy4B2aKU

1) Give a short example of deductive reasoning not used in the powerpoint.

2) What type of terms should you not use when arguing deductively?

3) What is one way to test deductive reasoning?

THE ANSWERS

1) A variety of different answers! : ) 2) Do not use any terms that are extreme. For

example, always and never. 3) First Test: Make sure it is valid. If it isn’t then it

can’t be applied to specific instances. Needs factual support.

Second Test: Whether the generalization applies to a particular case.

THE END I Feel Smarter!!