Smart Thinking
Smart Thinking
Logic and Argument
There are indicators we
can use to identify premises or conclusions.
Premise indicators: Because, Since, As, given that, For the reason that, Due to, In light of, Considering that, Based on the fact that, Seeing that, Owing to
Conclusion indicators: Therefore, Thus, Hence, Consequently, as a result, It follows that, In conclusion, In summary, Which means that, Which implies that, So
In an argument, if there are specific words or phrases used to indicate that a statement is either a premise or a conclusion, this is known as explicit inference. On the other hand, if an argument only consists of a series of premises and a conclusion without any explicit indicators, this is known as implicit inference. Explicit inference makes it clear to the reader or listener which statements are being used to support a point and which statement is the point being proved. Implicit inference requires the reader or listener to infer which statements are being used as premises and which statement is the conclusion.
Recognizing arguments
One important skill for
critical thinkers is being able to distinguish an argument from a non-argument.
Non-arguments can often be identified using the acronym "W.A.R.O",
which stands for:
- W: Warning
- A: Advice
- R: Report
- O: Opinion
There are two types of
arguments: deductive and inductive. Deductive arguments must be necessarily
true based on their premises, while inductive arguments are only probably true
based on their premises.
Asking questions
It is crucial to ask the right questions and multiple questions when trying to clarify an argument. Simply searching for the correct answer is not as effective. By asking the appropriate question, it becomes easier for the other person to provide an answer. According to psychologists, asking "why" five times can help an individual dive deep into a problem to discover a solution. It is also important to understand that others may not always accept one's answers and may have their own perspectives.
Group Work
Benefits and Limitations
of the Concept "Nearest School is the Best School"
Our team consists of 6
members, all of whom attended popular colleges in Sri Lanka. However, some of
them received their primary education from the nearest school in their
respective villages. We decided to explore the concept of "Nearest school
is the best school" and divided our group into two sub-groups to present
arguments for and against the idea.
The group in favor of the
concept argued that it reduces travel costs and time, as well as ensures an
affordable student capacity. On the other hand, the opposing team argued that
it is impractical due to the lack of infrastructure, laboratory, and teaching
facilities in these schools.
After a thorough
discussion, our team concluded that the concept can be beneficial if the Sri
Lankan government can provide equal facilities to all schools. In such a
scenario, the nearest school would indeed be the best school for a student.
Learnings outcomes from the activity
- Effective communication: The team members communicated effectively by presenting their arguments and listening to each other's viewpoints. They were able to have a constructive discussion and arrive at a solution.
- Critical thinking: The team members were able to think critically by analyzing the benefits and limitations of the concept, "Nearest school is the best school". They were able to put forward valid arguments to support their views.
- Problem-solving: The team was able to solve a problem by discussing the benefits and limitations of the concept and arriving at a solution that could work for all students.
- Open-mindedness: The team members were open-minded and willing to listen to each other's viewpoints. They were able to consider both the pros and cons of the concept and arrive at a solution that was feasible for all students.
Comments
Post a Comment