Deductive Reasoning

2). Sometimes when something is diffciult to understand, it becomes a bit clearer when we try to explain it to someone else.  Which type of reasoning was most difficult to understand?  Please do some additional internet research on that specific type of reasoning and discuss what you learned.


Out of all the reasonings, I found deductive to be the most unclear.  Doing additional research, I have gained a better understanding.  Deductive reasoning can be thought of as a "reduction".  Deductive reasoning is also known as "hypothetico-deduction".  Deductive reasoning starts out with a general idea and breaks down into a more specific case.  The general idea comes from a hypothesis or theory, assuming that it is true, and applies it to the more specific situation.  This reasoning is to show the general hypothesis or theory applies to all cases relevant to it.  For example, the winter is cold in the bay area.  During the winter you should wear warm clothes.  The general statement is the winter being cold which is then applied to the more specific event of what kind of clothes you should wear for the type of weather.

Types of Reasoning Examples

1). Read through the different types of reasoning posted to the instructors blog.  Give an example of each type of reasoning outlined on the instructors blog.  The example should be something the folks in class can relate to, so try to use real world examples. 


Reasoning by Analogy.  Reasoning by Analogy is all about reasoning by comparing to objects with one another.  For example: Emma is a San Jose State student.  She does not have financial aid.  So, she pays full tuition.  Jay attends the same school and does not have financial aid.  So, she will also pay the full tuition.


Sign Reasoning.  Reasoning by Sign is when you reason by using two objects that are closely related to one another.  For example: Where there's construction going on by freeway exits, there will probably be a detour route.  These two are closely tied because this usually happens because they reconstruct the pavement ways onto the exit so they make a detour route for people who may take that exit.  Using it the other way around A detour route probably means there is reconstruction going on.  There may be more reasons for detour like an accident.  You cannot flip the objects because it will make a weak reasoning statement.


Causal Reasoning.  Reasoning by Causal is pretty much the cause and effect of systematical events.  One even effects the other.  For example, drinking alcohol makes you want to use the restroom frequently.


Reasoning by Criteria. Reasoning by Criteria is when you outline the criteria that needs to be met then establish what you need to do to meet that criteria.  For example, Jay wanted a car.  He told her parents that the best way to keep him safe, go to school on time, and be able to get a job was to get a car because then she would not have to wait at a bus stop with unpredictable strangers, not have to depend when other people are going to school, and have her one independent time and way to work.


Reasoning by Example. Reasoning by Example is simply using an example like giving a situation, an event that occurred, or something like a story.  For example, Bob's mom told Bob what happened to one of her friends who drank and drove.  That person ended up in the hospital that night.  This was to reason Bob to not drink and drive.


Inductive. Inductive reasoning is a form of reasoning using observation and past experiences.  For example, Angela got hurt in her past relationship because her boyfriend cheated on her.  So now, she reasons with herself to not have a boyfriend for a long while until she can trust another guy intimately again.


Deductive. Deductive reasoning is when the premises are true so the conclusion must be true.  For example, Glenn said he wanted to go to Usher's concert if he were to come to the bay area.  Usher is going to have a concert in the bay area.  Glenn is probably going to Usher's concert.

Chp. 10

3). Pick one concept, idea or exercise from the assigned reading, that we have no already discussed, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.

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.

Pg. 195 Objectives

2). Pertaining to page 195, complete objective 1, 2, 3, 6 or 7. (Please choose only one to complete). 



#2: Find an advertisement that uses apple polishing.  Is it a good argument?

This is a Special K advertisement I found online.  This advertisement uses apple polishing in an appeal to vanity.  It is arguing that if you want to lose weight in a healthy way and feel good about your body, you should eat Special K.  This argument is not necessarily a bad argument.  It is relating your emotion by stating goals like fitting into your skinny jeans or feeling more fit.  It has a premise that you may want to be fit and healthy and Special K is the brand that may offer what you need to reach your goal.  So this appeals to the audience, argues appropriately, and is plausible.  It also has a prescriptive conclusion.  It says has that as a premise that if you want to feel a certain good way about yourself, then you should do this.  If you want to feel healthy and fit, then you should eat Special K. 

Appeal to Emotion

1). Discuss the idea of Appeal to Emotion. There are different aspects of Appeal to Emotion, which type of Appeal to Emotion strikes you, and why?

Appeal to emotion is about using our emotions for reasoning and making arguments.  It is us connecting our reasoning with our emotional connection to the argument being made.  We can connect to different emotions like pity, fear, vanity, spite, good feeling, and more.  These emotions reason us to make certain conclusive decisions about what we do in return to the argument.  For example, using the appeal to fear I believe is a common appeal people use to manipulate others.  Having to scare someone or make them fearful to do something gives reasoning to their reactions to the argument being made.  I think leaders of groups tend to use appeal to fear to make others follow their rule.  Your coach of your sports team can argue that you should practice and condition everyday to stay fit if you do not want to lose your next big game against your next opponent.  Here, you are scared to lose, so you do as your coach says because you believe his argument.

Past Concept - Further Discussion

3). Pick one concept in the class that we have covered so far in the class that you think needs further discussion.  Please do some additional web research on that particular topic and discuss what you have found.  Include weblinks in your blog post so the class can see what you have researched, and so the class can gain greater understanding of that particular topic.  (Note:  You might want to go back and read through your blog to see what you found difficult to understand from simply reading the book.  This will help you understand that topic a little more thoroughly, and help others in the class understand a bit more too - it's called community learning).  :)  



Argument Test
Looking at my past blog for this concept and after learning more, I thought this would be a good foundation concept to go back on for more discussion.  So, knowing that a good argument we need 3 components: . "The premises are plausible, 2. The premises are more plausible than the conclusion, 3. The argument is valid or strong" (p. 42, Epstein).  On my older post about this concept (Sept. 11), I actually had a claim using "always" which makes the argument week because I made it a generalized claim.  Before, I looked at is as a "sure thing" thinking it would make the claim even more 100%, but instead, it actually did not help the argument.


Now, adding on to an argument, there is also inductive and deductive arguments.  Inducting is when the argument is based on experience or observation and is deductive if the argument is based on a rule, law, or principle.  Breaking down a deductive argument, there are two kinds which are a syllogism or a conditional.  For a syllogism, it is a compile of claims that lead up to the argument.  For a condition, we have learned about this which is us saying "If (this happens, Then (this happens)".


website:[http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/deduc/deduc.html]

Assignment #2

2). Since we are almost finished with assignment #2, please discuss the usefulness of the first or second major course assignment. Use specific examples.

Working on assignment #2, we were able to learn about an existing organization and applying what we have been learning in class.  It helps us analyze the types of claims and arguments people use.  We learn how to see and apply where we can find fallacies, reasonings, claims, emotion to appeal, and legitimacy of advertising.  It was useful to work as a group and discuss everything to have a better idea on the different components we have been learning.  It helps further our learning especially since we are discussion and interacting with one another to answer any questions or concerns we may have.  Instead of just seeing examples through the book and having the analysis from the book, we get to see our own examples and create or own analysis to test what we have learned.  My group has been a great group asking questions and communicating with one another.