Critical Thinking: Argument or statement sentences
Humanities
State a) whether or not the following sentences are statements, and b) explain why the sentence is or is not a statement. That is, define what a statement is and explain why the sentence succeeds or fails at satisfying this definition.
1) Do you think your dog likes me because I’m petting him or because of the food in my bag?
a)
b)
2) Most women are not good at critical thinking because they are too emotional.
a)
b)
3) An empirical statement is a claim that could be demonstrated to be either true or false by appeal to definition alone.
a)
b)
4) State whether or not the following sentences are statements, instructions, commands, or questions.
a)
b)
5) You should never make a false promise.
a)
b)
PART TWO:
State a) whether or not the following are arguments, and b) explain why the following is or is not an argument. That is, define what an argument is and explain why the following succeeds or fails at satisfying this definition):
6)
P1: All zebras are just black and white.
P2: All that is just black and white oversimplifies the true complexity of life.
C: Therefore, all zebras oversimplify the true complexity of life.
a)
b)
7)
P1: Either the glass is half full or it is half empty.
P2: The glass is not half full.
C: Thus, you must be thirsty.
a)
b)
8)
P1: All 1’s are 2’s
P2: All 2’s are 3’s
P3: All 4’s are 5’s
C: Therefore, all 1’s are 5’s
PART THREE:
Standardize the argument in the following passage. Make sure to satisfy all 8 criteria when standardizing an argument, as listed in the text, pp. 31-33, and my notes to chapter one, pp. 15-16.
- We should ban most immigrants from entering the United States since most of the mass shootings in the U.S. have been perpetrated by immigrants.
https://shelf.brytewave.com/books/9781285969749/pa…
