Argument Practice Exercises: Recognizing, Diagramming, and Distinguishing Deduction from Induction

These problem Exercises include beginning exercises on some basic features of arguments in logic. In this course, an argument consists of a group of statements one of which, termed the conclusion, logically from the other statements, which are termed premises.

Some exercises are designed for practicing distinguishing arguments from nonarguments. Any use of language whereby one sentence or statement or a group of sentences or statements does not logically result in a particular conclusion is a nonargument.

Other problems give practice in distinguishing between inductive and deductive arguments. In general, in deductive arguments the conclusion follows necessarily from it premises, and in inductive argument the conclusion follows with with probability. Whenever a conclusion is claimed or thought by someone to follow necessarily from a premise or premises when it does not do so, the argument is often said to be an invalid argument.

• Diagramming Level 1 Arguments
  Few Premises, Simple Arguments

  Exercise 1 — Answers to Exercise 1

  Exercise 2 — Answers to Exercise 2

  Exercise 3

  
  

• Diagramming Level 2 Arguments
  Under Five Premises, Typical Arguments

  Exercise 1 — Answers to Exercise 1

  Exercise 2 — Answers to Exercise 2

  Exercise 3

  
  

• Diagramming Level 3 Arguments
  Over Five Premises, Mostly Complex Arguments

  Exercise 1 — Answers to Exercise 1

  Exercise 2 — Answers to Exercise 2

  Exercise 3

  
  

• Diagramming Deductive and
  Inductive Arguments

  Exercise 1 — Answers to Exercise 1

  
  

• Diagramming Arguments and
  Nonarguments

  Exercise 1 — Answers to Exercise 1