Guidelines for Analogical Argument Portfolio

In this assignment, you will come up with 3 original examples of cogent Analogical Arguments, to show that you know how to use them correctly.

Make sure that that the content of the arguments is as different from one another as possible, and that each of the premises is uncontroversially true. It is easiest to start by generating a conclusion and then search for premises for it. (The conclusion doesn’t have to be controversial.)

Example:

1. I am a human being and aspirin is a safe and effective pain medication for me.

2. Jane is also a human being.

3. There is a high correlation (approximately 94%) between the effects of a medication like aspirin and being a member of the same species.

4. This correlation makes sense since the effects of a medication depend on how it interacts with particular physiological features, and a creature’s physiological features are determined to a great extent by what type of species it is.

5. Therefore, aspirin is a safe and effective pain medication for Jane.

General Form of an Analogical Argument:

1. Thing A has Property 1 and Property 2.

2. Thing B has Property 1.

3. There is a High Correlation (approximate percentage) between Property 1 and Property 2.

4. Explanation of the correlation.

5. Therefore, Thing B has Property 2.

Grammar and Spelling: Make sure that your papers are clearly written – i.e., that the meaning is clear enough that any other student would be able to understand it. Papers will be downgraded for spelling, grammatical, and stylistic errors if there are more than 2 per page.

Sources: You shouldn’t use any outside sources since your arguments are supposed to be original.

Format: Typed, 12 point type, 1-1.5 inch margins, number and staple pages if more than one page.