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Index
Preface
Note to the Fourth Edition
Introduction
I.
Short Arguments: Some General Rules
1.
Identify premises and conclusion
2.
Develop your ideas in a natural order
3.
Start from reliable premises
4.
Be concrete and concise
5.
Build on substance, not overtone
6.
Use consistent terms
II.
Generalizations
7.
Use more than one example
8.
Use representative examples
9.
Background rates may be crucial
10.
Statistics need a critical eye
11.
Consider counterexamples
III.
Arguments by Analogy
12.
Analogies require relevantly similar examples
IV.
Sources
13.
Cite your sources
14.
Seek informed sources
15.
Seek impartial sources
16.
Cross-check sources
17.
Use the Web with care
V.
Arguments about Causes
18.
Causal arguments start with correlations
19.
Correlations may have alternative explanations
20.
Work toward the most likely explanation
21.
Expect complexity
VI.
Deductive Arguments
22.
Modus ponens
23.
Modus tollens
24.
Hypothetical syllogism
25.
Disjunctive syllogism
26.
Dilemma
27.
Reductio ad absurdum
28.
Deductive arguments in several steps
VII.
Extended Arguments
29.
Explore the issue
30.
Spell out basic ideas as arguments
31.
Defend basic premises with arguments of their own
32.
Consider objections
33.
Consider alternatives
VIII.
Argumentative Essays
34.
Jump right in
35.
Make a definite claim or proposal
36.
Your argument is your outline
37.
Detail objections and meet them
38.
Get feedback and use it
39.
Modesty, please!
IX.
Oral Arguments
40.
Reach out to your audience
41.
Be fully present
42.
Signpost your argument
43.
Offer something positive
44.
Use visual aids sparingly
45.
End in style
Appendix I: Some Common Fallacies
Appendix II: Definitions
D1.
When terms are unclear, get specific
D2.
When terms are contested, work from the clear cases
D3.
Definitions don’t replace arguments
Resources
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