For Further Notice.

The concept of fallacies I think should be further discussed because there were so many different kinds and they were very confusing. When we had to take our test on fallacies I was completely confused even though I studied them so much.  I liked when we had the website to further learn about reasoning by analogy.  All the different types of fallacies were briefly described in the book, so it was hard to follow the assignments and the examples did not help my understandment. I know that fallacies are a main part of arguments because they make them weak or strong. 

Opinions, Opinion, Opinions.

 My favorite thing about the class was the idea that it was online and I did not have to get up at a specific time of day to go to it. It was nice how everything we needed to know was in one place and there was always an explanation for everything we had to do or what we have to know for the week. It was nice to be able to post our blogs online because for those who are not Internet friendly got the experience.

I did not like how there were certain times for everything. I understand that we have a week and only three posts, but sometimes during the week it is hard to make time for it. I work Tuesday thru Thursday, so it is hard for me to post during the week. A few weeks I missed the twelve hour time difference because I had class and work, so I missed out on points.

If I could change anything it would be the time slots only because having such a constriction was really hard and stressful especially for people who have really tight schedules to follow by and they picked an online class because they thought it would be easier with the time commitment. 

What the Teacher Taught Me

This semester I have learned a lot more about arguments. Each chapter has taught me a new specific about how to arrange sentences to make it strong or weak. When arguing one side of the comparison is the conclusion and the other side concludes the same. Learning about different types of analogy to reason by was very helpful because it explained how different situations are more beneficial when using different reasoning. I have noticed I use this concept the most when I am arguing with friends or in class. The most useful part is using the general principle and applying it to both sides to prove that there are similarities as premises. By applying those two main concepts it has allowed me to have a strong argument every time and I have never I have never lost an argument, since I have been in this class. 

backwards

Tracing the cause backwards was helpful reading over because people use this reasoning all the time to try and put blame on someone else besides them. In the example from the book, the dog was the last reason to wake Dick up, but the process of looking back and find out the reason to each eventually makes one forget the main reason in the first place. It makes sense as to why someone would keep trying to figure out the reasoning to an action, but it is also silly to do so because the reasoning is never ending.  Sticking to the most recent cause is the best because it is the freshest cause and most recent evidence. 

Mission Impossible

Mission: Critical tour gives details around aspects of critical thinking with examples and participation.  Details around whether a claim is specific or non-specific. (non-specific example would be around half the girls in the house go out drinking on the weekends. ) The site then goes through the four types of patterns for statements.  Then it goes on the explore Induction and deduction with discussion around Syllogism and conditionals.(If Megan was home last night,  she slept in her bed.  Megan was home therefore she did sleep in her bed) For each and every topic in this site there is a series of examples and questions that emphasize what was covered.  This site is a perfect example of learning through practice.  In the end, anyone completing all tutorials and practices will have a stronger knowledge of critical thinking and a stronger ability to apply all aspects that were covered. Once done with there are fun activities that can be done and references for additional reading.  All to emphasize critical thinking.

entry numero uno

The cause and effect site has a good example of a causal argument.  It showed that for all people involved, there is one significant difference for all parties dependent upon point of view. The bicycle claims the parked truck caused him to swerve. The car claims the bicycle forced him to slam on his brakes which caused the car behind him to crash.  From each point of view there is one significant difference.   The example helped to show that the cause must precede the effect.  With out cause there is no effect. In a court or trial setting, you cannot prove causation you can only prove effect.  Finally the site emphasized that a causal argument relies on three factors:  acceptability of the comparison, the likelihood of the cause occurring, and the credibility of the significant difference.  In other words,  a causal argument must be believable so that those you are trying to convince can easily put themselves in that situation.  This website’s bicycle/truck example demonstrated a causal argument can be believable from different points of view as long as the arguments are real and credible.

Nature or Nurture?

It is interesting to read that when we use comparisons we are reasoning by analogy.  In life we constantly compare things.  That girls dress is cuter than that other girls.  That boy has a cuter smile than the other.  I think it is human nature  to think that way.  Until I read this section, I never thought of that as reasoning by analogy.

 Then to read that comparisons and conclusions are used in law was kind of amazing.  We think that law is spelled out  in complete detail but to read that lawyers use this form of reasoning all the time to make their point makes we wonder how clear and straight forward the courts and judicial system really are? Do the laws really mean something or is  it that the person that can make use of the best comparisons and analogies forms the direction the laws should go?

We Need to Learn to Read

Causal reasoning was the most difficult because I was reading over the word faster then my brain was working, so I was looking in the book and online for the wrong type of reasoning I was looking for casual reasoning and was confused when I could not find anything that made sense.  Even as I was reading the description of the wrong word I was still trying to process the definition and description.

After doing more internet research I learned that causal reasoning is a cause and effect argument. In an argument if there is a consistent pattern in the effects then it is easier to figure out and prove the cause. Causal reasoning is used in real life situations when customers all complain about the same product, then the products are looked at to see what is common in each of the complaints. That then will lead to the source of the problem. 

I LOVE COLLEGE

1.     Reasoning by Analogy: Kids under age already drink. The drinking age should be lowered. In a Fraternity in order to be allowed to party and drink a student must be at least 18 years of age, so what is the point of having the drinking age of 21 when serious binge drinking starts the first years of college.

2.     Sign Reasoning: If someone walks down the street and smells marijuana smoke, then someone is smoking marijuana.

3.     Casual Reasoning: Friday morning Alix, Morgan, and Alyssa felt sick. Julianne asked what they did the night before. Alix said she drank and danced. Morgan said she drank and smoked. Alyssa said she drank and ate La Vic’s. Julianne concluded that all three girls were feeling hung over from drinking too much.

4.     Reasoning by Criteria: We are having a tour for incoming freshman, so we need rooms to look presentable. Rather than, clean your room!

5.     Reasoning by Example: Are you sure you want a 4.0? Julie has a 3.8 and all she does is study. She is always sick and never sleeps.

6.     Inductive: Every student is required to take 12 units today to be a fulltime student, so every student will need to take 12 units next semester to be a full time student.

7.     Deductive: All students have professors. All professors give finals, therefore all students take finals. 

Emotions: Friendly or Foe?

When appealing to emotions depending on how they are used an argument can be good or bad. They can also, but used to cause emotion towards someone or to oneself. Appealing of emotion can cause an argument that has a prescriptive conclusion or a descriptive conclusion. If an argument has a prescriptive conclusion in can be considered either good or bad because it is directed at convincing someone else, so depending on the premises the argument can be good or bad. If the argument appeal to the emotion is a descriptive conclusion it is going to be a bad argument. Descriptive conclusions can come with wishful thinking within an argument. Thinking of descriptions are true just because of the belief of believing in emotions can cause a bad argument because the appeal cant be deleted as premise

Fear the Beard

Exercise # 3

An advertisement that appeals to fear:

There is an organization caused every fifteen minutes. The company goes around to high schools and colleges all around the nation during alcohol awareness week. In the advertisment images are shown of death, crushed cars, and accidents. Also shown are statistics of deaths per year from alcohol abuse, the percentages of age demographics that die each year, and the reactions from families and friends at funerals. In the end it advertises to not drink and drive because every fifteen minutes someone dies from drunk driving.

I think this advertisement is a good argument to appeal to fear because it is definitely fearful to everyone I know who has watched it. The advertisement gives information on how to prevent drunk driving as well as what to do to stop it from happening. This is what makes it a good argument because it doesn’t substitute one concern for all others. 

Two Wrongs Do Not Make A Right!

If I have learned anything growing up it is that emotions play a role in almost every aspect of our lives. No matter how much we try to control it in a positive or negative manner emotions are always present in an argument. In an argument emotions should not be the most effective part of making a decision. An appeal to emotion as stated in Epstein ch.10 is, “ In an argument is just a premise that says, roughly, you should believe or do something because you feel a certain way.” When using emotion in arguments there are different angles to use depending on the argument trying to be made. Arguments can appeal to pity, fear, and spite.

Appeal to spite always catches my attention because it is the easiest to come by when talking to people. It is the most common way to win over someone by playing the guilt trip card. I know people do it to me all the time and 95% of the time it works because people do not want to disappoint others.

What Is the Importance?

The First major assignment was useful because there were lessons and tests outside of the actual assignment. The assignment was a challenge in itself because the class is online, so each of us individually do not know each other. Learning how to communicate with one another via email and organizing around everyone’s schedule.  Learning how to cooperate with complete strangers and write a paper in a short amount of time.

The paper itself was extremely helpful and useful because it is important to know what is going on in the world. As a college student I am either sleeping, working, or going to class, so sometimes it is hard to be caught up on the daily news. Searching a topic that causes a lot of controversy between the government and the public was good to read and form an opinion over. Knowing how to break down an article to find the specifics and why certain research was used. 

Say It Ain't So

When stating general claims it is common to use words such as “all” or “some”. If those two words are used wrong it can cause a persons argument to be false and invalid. It is easy to mistake a good and bad argument when the claims sound decent. In the book the example of polar bear sounds valid at first, but is it true. When using all a person should make sure the definition of all keeps the claim true. Using All means everything and at least one. An example of displaying All can be:

All girls like shopping.

If you are a girl you like to shop.

Girls shop.

Everyone that shops is a girl.

Some arguments use Some in arguments when talking about at least one, but not all.

Some alcohol tastes good.

At least one alcohol tastes good.

There is alcohol that tastes good.

Good tasting alcohol exists. 

Don't Be Weak

Reducing to the absurd shows that one or several claims are either false or dubious. Reducing the absurd also helps prove if claims are unwanted or false. In an argument if the if the conclusion is absurd then the premises shouldn’t be wanted in an argument. When using reducing to the absurd in an argument it is important to have a strong or valid argument, so it is easier to point out the premises or claims that do not belong.  When talking more specifically about reducing to the absurd there is refuting by analogy. There are some premises that can be said differently with analogies that cause the conclusion of the argument to be absurd. I thought this part of chapter seven was helpful because it is easy to compare one thing to another and in some cases the meaning can change. Knowing how to use reducing to the absurd can help with arguments and making them strong and valid.

What I Learned Today :)

Chapter seven’s main goal is to educate on counterarguments. Two main parts of counterarguments are raising objectives and refuting an argument. The main point of raising objective is a way to show that the argument being presented is bad. When raising objective it challenges the premises or can show that premises are dubious, which shows whether the alcohol is weak or not. The other part of counterarguments is refuting an argument. When refuting an argument there are three direct ways: show that at least one of the premises is dubious, show that the argument isn’t valid or strong, and show that the conclusion is false. Another way is when refuting indirectly there many not be a way of proving the premises is false, but one knows that the argument is wrong.  When attempting to refute a bad argument there are different ways such as ridicule. A bad lead can lead to a slippery slope. 

So Johnny What Did You Learn Today?

Compound claims are composed of multiple claims using the word “or” to connect the claims together to make one claim. The claims connected by “or” are known as alternatives. There can be two claims in a sentence, but depending on the connecting word it may not be a compound claim.

I could drink water or I can drink soda. This is a compound claim because there are two alternatives connected by “or” to make the sentence a compound claim.

When using compound claims it is easy to confuse whether the claim is true of false. Sometimes the word “because” is used as a connector, but that makes the claim an argument not a compound claim.

This chapter has really helped me learn how there can multiple types of claims and how to tell the difference between them. It is really easy to make a mistake when making a claim act as a claim and not an argument. 

The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

We have all been arguing since we were able to grasp the concept of fighting for what you want.  Some of us adapted good arguing skills while others are unfortunate and can never win an argument. Those who lose their arguments probably argue backwards. Arguing backwards is when someone thinks and argument is strong and believes the conclusion is true, which then leads people to believe the premises are true. In the book the example has to do with allergies and because the cats were around an outsider thought the subject was allergic to cats.

Most arguments happen because people do not understand the premises and go straight to the conclusion. I know from personal experience I have seen fights happen and I look at the conclusion and not the premises. Once I learn and understand the premises I have a whole new look and idea of a conclusion. People need to learn to know the facts before skipping to conclusions. 

What you see is not always what you get!

Facebook is not only the time consumer of a majority of college students. One part of facebook is all about advertising. Online advertisements try to make good deals, but what buyers do not think of when buying merchandise is there is also a price for shipping and handling. The right side of the panel on facebook always has advertisements for clothing and shoes. A lot of advertising I see has to do with Fraternity and Sorority paraphernalia. The advertisement I saw most recently was for Greek stationary and gifts. 

http://www.signaturea.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=3141&RefineBy_300=9005&isReloaded=t

The website’s home page has a lot of eye-catching detail to keep the readers attention. The main page has a lot of pictures to advertise what they sell. They show the original price and the sale price right below it to make buyers think it’s a good deal, but I know that there are stores that sell stationary for cheaper prices then what is online.

        

FIX IT!

Mary: Sororities are fun. They give you a place to live.

Alex: So?

Mary: You should join one.

Alex: Why would that make me want that?

Analysis: This isn’t a strong argument, so to make it a stronger argument there should be a premise that relates to Alex. A statement that could make it stronger to add would be for Mary to say, “ You want to have fun and you need a place to live”.  Also, adding the cost is cheap can help make the argument plausible.

There are plenty of places to live such as housing, apartments, and dorms. Not all apartments and housing are cheap, so by stating that living in a sorority becomes a valid option. Personalizing cheap and fun living is a solid win in an argument for a majority of the human population. 

Because 7 8 9 haha

Exercise #1
Argument: yes
My neighbor should be forced to get rid of all the cars in his yard. 1 People do not like living next door to such a mess. 2 He never drives any of them. 3 they all look old and beat up and leak oil all over the place. 4 It is bad for the neighborhood, and it will decrease property value.
Conclusion: The neighbor needs to move his cars away from his property. 
1,2,&3 lead up to 4. 
I think this is a good argument because the premises look plausible. It may not be a very strong argument due to the claims being vague. If the claims were more legal then the argument would be stronger. 




The exercise was helpful because I had to pull apart the argument and understand each part. It also helped me understand each part of the argument and what causes what part of an argument. Having practice helps understand more of the specifics of concepts. 

Just Because it is Good Doesn't Mean it is True

When developing an argument the point shouldn't be to convince someone on false claims. A good argument has good intentions to believe the conclusion is true. I found the definition of plausible claims interesting and useful because we argue at some point everyday, whether it is with our selves or with someone else we, we all do it! Knowing how to form and develop a claim that will have a good reason to believe it is true will automatically give me the upper hand in an argument. Some arguments are pointless and have to proof of being true, so they are considered to be dubious and implausible.

After reading the chapter the knowledge of having a good reason to believe my arguments is consistently on my mind. It has already helped me a few times with simple arguments just because I started off my argument with a plausible claim to be set in the mind of who I am arguing with.


muhahaha I will always get my way now :)

False... NO FACT!

Arguments that are valid may not always be strong arguments.


Tosh.O is on the comedy central channel. Therefor everyone would find it funny. 


Tosh.O is on comedy central, so that part of the statement is valid. Not everyone has the same idea and similar feelings on comedy. Some people are more fun than others or find jokes more silly, so not everyone would find Tosh.O a funny show. Due to the second part of the argument being weak the argument is valid, but not strong. 




Clothes get dirty from being worn, so everyone should wash their clothes after wearing them. 


Due to personal hygiene no one like the smell of nasty smelling body odor. Some people don't wear deodorant and some sweat more than others. This argument is valid and strong because it is true that clothes are dirty after being worn and it is important to keep up with personal hygiene. I have never met someone who likes the smell of bad BO, which further proves the argument to be strong and valid. 

Cough Cough Pass

There is a flu going around San Jose State. Alex goes to SJSU and woke up one night sick with the systems of the flu, therefor Alex has the flu. This is considered a valid argument because it passes all three tests. The premises of the argument are plausible because it is possible for Alex to have the flu if it is going around SJSU. Test number two discusses the premises being more plausible that the conclusion. This is a fact because is is more reasonable for a sickness to go around a school and effect a majority of the students then a student to randomly get the flu. The argument is valid and strong because if an virus is going around the school it is easy for anyone to attract it because so many objects are shared. If everyone around Alex is showing symptoms then it is more than likely that Alex will show signs and symptoms. 

All About the Details!!

Drinking half a glass of red wine a night is good for the heart. There have been studies done to prove that red wine is good for the heart. Since the previous statement stated a face the claim is considered descriptive.  A descriptive claim defines what a subject is. So in the example it is claimed that drinking red wine is good for the heart. 


My brother should not have a pet. This claim is considered prescriptive because it says a thought, idea, or belief. A prescriptive claim is says what something should be. A prescriptive claim is basically an opinion or a thought to a subject. I think my brother shouldn't have a pet because he is dirty and unorganized, but that is just my opinion and others may think differently. 

You're so Vague :/

VAGUE SENTENCE: She never pays attention. 


This sentence was said in a converstaion I was having with one of my roommates the other day. We were talking about one of our friends who was in the room with us and was too busy on her phone to partake in the conversation. 


This is a vague statement because the sentence does not specify any specific details. If a random person walked by they could interpret that she never pays attention in class or at work, but in our case our roommate does not pay attention to anything when she is busy texting because she focuses on one thing at a time. 

Who Said What?

SUBJECTIVE: That girl is a whore. 


This claim is subjective because there is no determination on what a whore is. Living in a sorority house and being part of the Greek system there is always talk about sluts and whores. Most of the time girls are given the title as a slut or whore by other girls because of jealousy or hatred. I have never been called a slut or a whore, but I have have seen girls and guys call girls those names. The most recent incident was with a random girl who broke up with one of my best friends in a fraternity. The break up wasn't a pleasant one and after anytime the girl was brought up he called her a whore. 




OBJECTIVE: The Subway diet works.


Jared is shown in commercials every now and then to show the weight he has lost. This is an objective claim because there are scientists who have proven the diet works. Also there have been experiments to prove that it works for other people besides Jared. A group of my friends and I eat subway a lot because we are not always given the healthiest food in the house we live in. Now that Spring Break is coming up soon weight loss and body figure is one of the main concerns amongst my friends. 

Introductory Post

Whatsss up?!

My name is Megan Tannenbaum, but everyone I know on campus calls me Tbomb. I am from Fremont which is about 20 min away and I commuted first semester last year and moved into my Sorority house second semester. I am an active member of Alpha Phi Beta Psi Chapter. I am holding a position as Historian in Alpha Phi, but I am also VP of Member Education on PHC. I am always buzzing around with energy and I am always doing something. You can always find me at the gym or running around the campus because I love being active. I am working on applying back into the Kin department from Chemical Engineering, so as of now I am undeclared. 

I have grown up partaking in many leadership classes and functions, so I have learned many communication skills and the basics to having a typical conversation with someone. I took comm 21 last year, so I have improved on public speaking, which has helped me with job interviews as well as talking at Chapter in front of all my fellow sisters. 

I am really interested in how things work because its the idea of how it was developed and thought about that interests me. I also like to take it to the next stuff and take objects apart and reassemble it or build objects without using directions. For me this allows my imagination and creativity to expand. I also like to drive and hope to road trip the US one day because it gives me a sensation of freedom and own will. I also have been involved in sports my whole life whether it has been playing or watching, I have seen it all. I grew up playing soccer and swimming and tried volleyball and water polo on the side. My main sport to watch is ice hockey because my younger brother plays and a lot of my life has revolved around his schedule. I am glad I like to type because I tend to have an opinion and I like to talk a lot! I don't ramble usually, but I just have a lot on my mind most of the time and I am proud I can speak my mind, so I do :)

 

Basically I am super friendly and LOVE making new friends, so I hope to get to know some new people!!!

~ Tbomb