Purpose: (1) To reinforce your knowledge of the classical structure of arguments. (2) To develop your ability to recognize valid and invalid syllogisms. (3) To assess your understanding of the classical structure of arguments. (4) To give you experience applying concepts related to argumentation and critical thinking.

Assignment: Write one valid and one invalid syllogism for each type of argument discussed in the text (categorical, disjunctive, and conditional). That's a total of six syllogisms. For each syllogism clearly label the type of syllogism it is, as well as the major premise, minor premise, and conclusion. After each invalid syllogism also write an explanation of why it is invalid. So each of the six parts would look something like the following:

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE CAPITALIZED HEADINGS FOR EACH PART.

Each syllogism must be original, which means it is not the same, or nearly the same, as an example used in the readings, in class activities, in the web tutorial, or presented to you in some other class. It can be an argument that was actually made by someone else or one that you make up. Each syllogism must be realistic, which means it is an example of an argument that might be made about a personal or public issue by someone who truly wants the argument to be accepted. If you use examples that actually happened you will probably need to fill in missing portions.

Evaluation: Each example is worth up to five points, making the entire assignment worth 30 points. To get credit, each syllogism must be on a completely different subject than the others; you cannot simply re-write arguments. If the argument does not seem to be realistic or original you will not get full credit.

Each example will also be evaluated based on whether those you say are valid are really valid, whether those you say are invalid are really invalid, and if each one is the type of syllogism you say it is.

This assignment must be e-mailed to jgv1@humboldt.edu. Be sure it is the body of the message, not an attachment. See the tentative schedule for the date this assignment is due.Write each syllogism in a major premise, minor premise, conclusion order, with the parts labeled. See the tentative schedule for the date this assignment is due.

The work you submit for this assignment may be used as future course material unless you ask that it not be used. Do not write anything that you wouldn't want others to read without letting me know that you'd prefer it not be shared.