Another idea I found useful is using the prescriptive and descriptive conclusion in the appeal to emotion reasoning. Using a prescriptive versus a descriptive conclusion can also help you determine whether the reasoning of the argument is good or bad. Having a descriptive conclusion will make the argument bad. Epstein states that this "wishful thinking" makes it a bad argument. A Descriptive conclusion is saying what it is versus what it should be. The descriptive conclusion states what you "wishfully" think it is, but just because you are making yourself believe it does not make it true. Like in the example in the book, the man has wishful thinking by thinking the description of him his true, but we cannot be moved by our emotions in such a way to make everything we say or argue makes it true. In comparison to a prescriptive conclusion, we are saying what it should be. This helps us whether to believe the claims being stated in the argument and not using descriptive conclusion to convince us.
Unfortunately I did not pay too much attention to this part of the reading so I was glad to see you post something on it. Good job breaking down and explaining descriptive conclusions. After reading it, I have memorized it by thinking it is what happens at the end of a Disney fairytale, wishful to the rest of us. You also did a good job explaining prescriptive conclusion. It was really helpful and important how you mentioned descriptive conclusion lead to bad arguments and how prescriptive claims make good arguments. Thanks for a quick summary on part of the reading!
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