PP201 Lecture 1: Chapter 1 Notes
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An attempt to justify or prove a conclusion through rational means. Arguments do not only occur when there are disagreements. Whenever someone tries to convince someone else of the truth of a claim through rational persuasion, that person is making an argument. An argument justifies a conclusion by means of rational persuasion. Every argument has the following components: a conclusion what the argument is trying to get you to accept. In any argument there is a claim the truth or falsity of which the speaker wants you to accept: premises reasons used to support the conclusion. These are the points used to convince you of the truth of the conclusion of the argument. Indicator words for conclusions: thus, therefore, hence, so, it follows that, shows that, indicates that, proves that, then. Ted won the intercollegiate ten thousand meters last year and has been training hard ever since, so he should win easily this year.