Module 9. Constructing Valid Arguments

This module aims to help you polish many of the skills needed to construct valid arguments. This includes testing the validity of arguments, proving the validity of arguments, filling in missing premises or rules of inference, and other proof strategies. By the end of this module, you should have the preparation you need to begin composing arguments on your own. Topics studied in this module include:

1. applications of valid arguments;
2. Recognizing valid arguments;
3. Applied Truth Tables;
4. Applied Venn Diagrams;
5. Proofs with Propositional Rules;
6. Proofs with Categorical Rules;
7. Recognizing applications of a rule;
8. Complex Enthymemes;
9. Translating back into English;
10. Choosing Propositional Rules;
11. Choosing Categorical Rules;
12. Extracting arguments.

• 9.1 Testing Validity for Complex Arguments
  • 9.1.1 Applications of Valid Arguments
    • Review
    • Applications of Formal Logic
    • Soundness and Incompleteness
  • 9.1.2 Recognizing Valid Arguments
    • Strategies to Test Validity
    • Step 1: Propositional, Categorical, or Both?
    • Step 2: Intuitively Valid or Invalid?
    • Step 3a: If it seems Valid, prove it with the rules
    • 3b: If it doesn’t seem Valid, use a Truth Table or Venn Diagram
    • 4. How to Handle Hybrid Arguments
  • 9.1.3 Applied Truth Tables
  • 9.1.4 Applied Venn Diagrams
  • Submodule 9.1 Quiz
• 9.2 Proving Validity for Complex Arguments
  • 9.2.1 Propositional Rules: Proofs
  • 9.2.2 Propositional Rules: More Proofs
  • 9.2.3 Categorical Rules: Proofs
    • Working with Categorical Syllogisms
    • Activity: Categorical Syllogisms
  • 9.2.4 Categorical Rules: More Proofs
    • Complex Arguments
    • Make it Explicit
    • Apply Propositional Rules
    • Remember Existential Generalization
    • Construct a Categorical Syllogism
  • Submodule 9.2 Quiz
• 9.3 Filling in the Missing Pieces
  • 9.3.1 Recognizing Applications of a Rule
    • Recognizing the Rule
  • 9.3.2 Complex Enthymemes
    • Working Backwards
  • 9.3.3 Translating Back into English
    • Translating Back into English
    • Translating ‘Not’
    • Negation in Complex Sentences
  • Submodule 9.3 Quiz
• 9.4 Argumentative Strategies
  • 9.4.1 Choosing Propositional Rules
    • Making the Premises Useful
  • 9.4.2 Choosing Categorical Rules
    • Getting an Argument into Standard Form
    • Obversion and Contraposition
    • Quantifier Negation
  • 9.4.3 Preview of Extracting Arguments
    • Extractions
  • Submodule 9.4 Quiz