If the reasoning is valid, explain how the truth of the conclusion follows from the premises;

We have learned this week 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: To prepare to respond to this prompt, read the instructor’s guidance and Chapters 3 and 4 (the required portions) of the textbook, and view required media for this week. Contemplate what it means to for an argument to bedeductive.

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:

  1. Present each argument in standard from (with the premises listed above the conclusion).
  2. After you have presented each argument, provide an explanation of why the reasoning is or is not valid.
  3. If the reasoning is valid, explain how the truth of the conclusion follows from the premises;
  4. 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.