Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Something to Blog Home About
Find a brief passage of text on the hoof (letters to the editor columns in newspapers are a good place to look if you're stumped) that you think may contain an argument. Quote it with full citation, and then try to put it in standard form (premise or premises first, conclusion last). Then let your readers evaluate the argument with you.
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In The Berkshire Eagle on Monday, September 12, 2011, a woman wrote to 'Dear Abby' saying, "My new doctor has told me I'm considered morbidly obese. We discussed the yo-yoing weight problems I have had since I was a child, and she said I'd be a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery."
ReplyDeleteI believe the standard form for this argument would be:
1) New doctor stating patient being morbidly obese.
2) Discussing childhood/current weight problems.
3) New doctor suggesting gastric bypass surgery for weight problems.
Hi Meaghan,
ReplyDeleteIf you're exercising the blogging option, you might put this effort on your own blog for others to discuss.
I'm not yet convinced there is an argument in this passage, but to sort out whether there is or not you will need to state the (possible) premises and conclusion as statements -- simple, declarative sentences that make truth claims.