This week, we have learned about deductive reasoning, including what it takes for an argument to be deductive. This discussion allows us to practice identifying and evaluating examples of deductive reasoning.Prepare: Contemplate what it means to for an argument to be deductive.
Reflect: Having studied the concept of deductive reasoning, find sources of reasoning, be it a detective novel, a political blog, a newspaper article, a TV broadcast, or some other source, and identify three arguments that you take to be deductive. If you have a hard time finding all three from media sources, you are able to create one or two of your own deductive arguments, on whatever topic you wish.
Write: Present each argument in standard from (with the premises listed above the conclusion). After you have presented each argument, provide an explanation of why the reasoning is or is not valid. If the reasoning is valid, explain how the truth of the conclusion follows from the premises; if the reasoning is not valid, show how it would be possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false, and discuss what it might take to make the argument valid.
Guided Response: Read the reflections of your classmates and analyze the arguments that they have presented, paying close attention to how the conclusion follows from the premises. Discuss whether you agree with their analysis of each argument and present further ideas on how each argument could be improved.