Lesson SevenInformal Logic II

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Write an effective and logical outline for your argumentative paper.

Today’s Objective

“The aim or purpose of argument is to use logic (both inductive and deductive) to

create reasoned communication of ideas, insights, and experiences to some audience

so as to produce a new understanding of some issue for that audience.”

argument

Analytical Thesis StatementA thesis statement that analyzes the

relationship among various significant ideas contained in the thesis sentence(s)

Thesis Statements

Structure of Analytical Thesis StatementsThis pattern can serve as an aid:

Independent clause(s) + restricting clause(s) [general ideas are stated] [qualifying idea(s) defined]

Thesis Statements

If you have a good analytical thesis statement, creating an outline is relatively easy.

Outlining

There are essentially two major ways to draft an outline from a thesis statement:

1. Isolating key ideas to be developed

2. Using informal logic

Outlining

Outlining

From Thesis Statement to OutlineExample:

“Love is disappearing because individualism is the main survival technique in today’s fiercely competitive society.”

From Thesis Statement to OutlineExample:

We immediately recognize that the driving organizational force behind the thesis statement is

cause & effect.

At the most general level, we are asserting that love is disappearing because individualism is

becoming more prevalent.

Outlining

From Thesis Statement to Outline

Premise 1: ?Premise 2: Individualism is the main survival

technique in today’s fiercely competitive society. Conclusion: Love is disappearing.

Outlining

From Thesis Statement to Outline

Premise 1: Individualism and love are mutually exclusive.

Premise 2: Individualism is the main survival technique in today’s fiercely competitive society.

Conclusion: Love is disappearing.

Outlining

Any questions and/or comments about your homework?

ModelsLet’s look some examples together.

Outlining

Pg. 127 – 129Two types of outlines / Rules / Examples

Formal Conventions of Outlines

1. Parallelism 2. Coordination3. Subordination4. Division

Formal Conventions of Outlines

Parallelism Each heading and subheading should preserve

parallel structure. If the first heading is a noun, the second heading should be a noun.

Formal Conventions of Outlines

CoordinationAll the information contained in Heading 1 should

have the same significance as the information contained in Heading 2. The same goes for the

subheadings (which should be less significant than the headings).

Formal Conventions of Outlines

SubordinationThe information in the headings should be more

general, while the information in the subheadings should be more specific.

Formal Conventions of Outlines

Division Each heading should be divided into 2 or more

parts.

Formal Conventions of Outlines

From Thesis Statement to Outline

We must ask ourselves the following question:“How do I prove each premise?”

Use your invention notes.

Expanding Outlines

From Thesis Statement to Outline

Premise 1: Individualism and love are mutually exclusive.

Premise 2: Individualism is the main survival technique in today’s fiercely competitive society.

Conclusion: Love is disappearing.

Expanding Outlines

Expanding Outlines

I. IntroductionII. Individualism and love: mutually exclusiveIII. Individualism: main survival techniqueIV. Conclusion

From Thesis Statement to Outline

Premise 1: Individualism and love are mutually exclusive.

How do we prove this premise?

Definition / Compare and Contrast

Expanding Outlines

II. Individualism and love: mutually exclusiveA. Individualism

1. Definition2. Characteristics

a. Selfishb.

B. Love1. Definition2. Characteristics

a. Selflessb.

C. Individualism & Love

From Thesis Statement to Outline

Premise 2: Individualism is the main survival technique in today’s fiercely competitive society.

How do we prove this premise?

Cause and Effect

Expanding Outlines

III. Individualism: main survival techniqueA. Causes

1. Overpopulationa. Competitionb.

2. Consumerism3. Economy

B. Effects1. 2.

(Effects should be directly related to II.A)

You will turn in your thesis statement and syllogism

next week.

First Draft & Outline:

Due Week 10

First Draft:Just get your ideas down on paper.

Don’t worry about making it perfect or beautiful.

About 1,000 words.

HomeworkUse your invention notes to expand your

outline.

Begin writing your first draft.

ReadingReview Informal Logic Handouts

Pg. 127 - 129