Assignment: Argument Evaluation
· Read the article “Controlling Irrational Fears After 9/11” on pp. 456–458 of Appendix 1.
· Identify at least two arguments in the article. Outline the premises and conclusions of each argument you find. Then, answer the following questions for each argument, making sure to explain how you arrived at your answers. 650 words or more.
o Do the premises sufficiently support the conclusions?
o Are the arguments either deductively valid or inductively strong, or are they invalid or weak?
o Are the premises true or plausibly true, or are they difficult to prove?
Note that you may choose to evaluate invalid or weak arguments, but you must describe how they are invalid or weak.
Read our previous discussion of these questions.
http://www.jiskha.com/search/index.cgi?query=%93Controlling+Irrational+Fears+After+9%2F11%94
In order to complete this assignment, you will need to follow the steps outlined below:
1. Read the article “Controlling Irrational Fears After 9/11” on pages 456-458 of Appendix 1. Familiarize yourself with the content and arguments presented in the article.
2. Identify at least two arguments within the article. An argument consists of premises, which are statements presented as evidence or reasons, and a conclusion, which is the claim being supported by the premises. Note down the premises and conclusions for each argument you find.
To help you with this, look for statements that support or provide evidence for a specific claim. A premise is a statement offering reasons or evidence, while a conclusion is the main point or claim being argued for.
3. Evaluate whether the premises sufficiently support the conclusions. Consider if the information presented in the premises is strong enough to lead to the conclusion. Are there any gaps in reasoning or missing evidence that would weaken the connection between the premises and the conclusion? If the premises do not adequately support the conclusion, explain why this is the case.
4. Determine if the arguments are deductively valid or inductively strong, or if they are invalid or weak. In deductive arguments, the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises if they are true. In inductive arguments, the conclusion is likely to be true based on the strength of the premises. If an argument is deductively valid or inductively strong, explain why. If it is invalid or weak, describe the flaws in the argument's structure or the insufficiency of its evidence.
5. Assess the truthfulness or plausibility of the premises. Consider if the premises are true or if they at least have a reasonable probability of being true. If the premises are difficult to prove or lack strong evidence, explain why this is the case.
Remember, for each argument you identify, address all three evaluation questions: the sufficiency of premises, the validity or strength of the argument, and the truthfulness or plausibility of the premises.