Use the diagramming method for identifying the argument structure of the following: "The Democrats tend to be to the left on social policy, and the new Congress is controlled by the Democrats, so we can expect a swing to the left. Of course, there are always exceptions."
To use the diagramming method for identifying the argument structure of a statement, we can break down the argument into its main components and visualize them using a diagram. Here's the breakdown of the given statement:
1. Premise: The Democrats tend to be to the left on social policy.
2. Premise: The new Congress is controlled by the Democrats.
3. Conclusion: We can expect a swing to the left.
4. Counterpoint: Of course, there are always exceptions.
Now let's represent these components using a diagram:
|_1.Premise_| | _|
| The Democrats |
| tend to be to |
| the left on |
| social policy|
______|_3.Conclusion_|
|________2.Premise________| | We can expect |
|The new Congress is | | a swing to |
| controlled by the | | the left. |
| Democrats. |
_______|_4.Counterpoint_|
| Of course, there are |
| always |
| exceptions. |
In this diagram, we can see that the premises (1 and 2) lead to the conclusion (3), which is the main argument. The counterpoint (4) is presented as a separate element, indicating that there may be exceptions to the main conclusion.
By using this diagramming method, we can visually understand the argument structure and how the different components relate to each other.