CRCB Chapter 12: Identifying and Evaluating Arguments

Recognizing arguments as you read lets you critically examine an author's reasoning. Arguments always have at least one reason and one conclusion. Two types of arguments are deductive and inductive. Deductive arguments have at least one premise that leads to a conclusion. Inductive arguments begin with a series of specific observations and conclude with a generalization that flows from them. Try to always question an author's views so flaws are not so easily accepted. Being able to detect and evaluate arguments in textbooks and reading materials forces you to analyze the logic of what you read and helps you present your own ideas in a logical fashion.