UNIT 6

HUM 1020, Critical Thinking 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VI Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Define arguments. 2. Identify the cue words for arguments. 3. Compare arguments and inferences. 4. Compare and contrast the different types of deductive arguments. 5. Explain what makes a deductive argument both valid and effective. 6. Construct valid and effective deductive arguments.

Reading Assignment Chapter 6: Constructing Arguments

Film Assignment

Films (Choose 1):

 A Time to Kill

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117913/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1072381-time_to_kill/

 Runaway Jury

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313542/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/runaway_jury/

 To Kill a Mockingbird

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056592/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/to_kill_a_mockingbird/

 Thelma and Louise

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103074/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/thelma_and_louise/

Note about films: These have all been chosen based on how they help illustrate and enhance the main focus of each unit.

Unit Lesson Because argument is such an important component of critical thinking, Units VI and VII both focus on different aspects of argument and the reasoning process.

UNIT VI STUDY GUIDE

Constructing Arguments

HUM 1020, Critical Thinking 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

This unit discusses the basics about argument and presents effective argument as a kind of dialogue that includes people conversing with each other as they try to understand the other's opinions while also supporting their own. It is via arguments that you explain, justify, and predict. It is important that as you read, study, and inwardly digest this information about arguments that you not get distracted by the other definitions of argument (i.e., people yelling at each other) or by the role models for argument provided by the media (which tend to feature people yelling or attacking each other).

Film Themes:

 What is an argument?

 How is an argument constructed?

 Evaluating and understanding deductive arguments.

 What makes an argument effective?

 Reasons and conclusions.