Question 1 

1. The three parts of an argument are      _____________, inference, and conclusion:

  

truth value

 

premises

 

deduction

 

reasoning

3 points   

Question 2 

1. The law of excluded middle states

  

something cannot   both be and not be at the same time

 

the middle term   must be distributed in the premises at least once

 

something either is   or is not

 

something is what   it is

3 points   

Question 3 

1. According to the reading, even God      cannot create a contradiction.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 4 

1. A mixed hypothetical syllogism in      which the premise denies the consequent is called:

  

Modus ponens

 

Categorical

 

Disjunctive

 

Modus tollens

3 points   

Question 5 

1. The Latin phrase that means ‘it      does not follow’ is:

    

3 points   

Question 6 

1. This may be the most well-known      fallacy of presumption:

  

bifurcation

 

red-herring

 

begging the question

 

hasty generalization

3 points   

Question 7 

1. This fallacy is sometimes referred      to as the false dilemma:

  

straw man

 

bifurcation

 

red herring

 

special pleading

3 points   

Question 8 

1. Identify the fallacy: The Bible      says we should do to others what we would have them to do for us.      Therefore I have no problem sharing the questions and answers of this quiz      with another student.

  

special pleading

 

tu quogue

 

sweeping   generalization

 

red herring

3 points   

Question 9 

1. “Begging the question” is a      fallacy of presumption.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 10 

1. Identify the fallacy: He’s the      third student I’ve caught cheating on the test. It just proves that you      can’t trust students these days.

  

hasty   generalization

 

straw man

 

ad hominem

 

division

3 points   

Question 11 

1. Occam’s razor says:

  

the best explanation is usually   philosophical

 

the best argument is usually   comprehensive

 

the strongest argument is usually the   positive/negative approach

 

the simplest explanation is usually   the best

3 points   

Question 12 

1. The principle of simplicity says      we should try to simplify complex arguments.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 13 

1. A best explanation approach is      often the best way to argue because many issues in philosophy do not have      perfect solutions.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 14 

1. Which of the following should we      do first in our analysis of the ‘validity’ of an argument?

  

determine if these   premises lead to this conclusion

 

determine if the   premises are true

 

determine if there   are any informal fallacies

 

determine if we   agree with the conclusion before evaluating the validity or strength of the argument

3 points   

Question 15 

1. The term for beliefs relating      together in a way that is mutually supportive:

  

consistency

 

coherence

 

comprehensive

 

constancy

3 points   

Question 16 

1. An inference drawn from      statistical reasoning is deductive.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 17 

1. In a deductive syllogism, if the      premises are true and the conclusion is true, then the argument is valid.

True 

False 

3 points   

Question 18 

1. The formal procedure for writing      out a deductive argument is called

  

an analogy

 

a syllogism

 

a hypothesis

 

a formulation

3 points   

Question 19 

1. Type of argument that begins with      a problem with an unknown explanation, forms a theory and tests the      theory.

  

deductive syllogism

 

probability calculus

 

hypothetical reasoning

 

statistical reasoning

3 points   

Question 20 

1. An argument may be evaluated as      “true” or “false.”

True 

False 

Submit Assignment

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Text book: Whitman Cobb, W. N. (2020). Political science today (1st ed.). Washington, DC: Sage, CQ Press.

Instructions
Find an article in your local newspaper about a local policy issue that affects you. For example, an article concerning your county’s decision to privatize your trash collection service. Summarize the article and explain how this issue affects you. Is the article neutral? Why or why not? How might you influence this policy in the future?

Be sure to include a scanned copy of the article in your submission in addition to citations. There are several free scannable apps on the market such as Scannable. If printing is an obstacle, you may include a hyperlink to the article. However, if the link breaks or can not be accessed the burden falls on you to produce that article or to risk losing points. 

Articles may not be more than one month old.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

• Length: 3 full  pages (not including title page or references page)
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• Title page
• References page
• Articles may not be more than one month old.