Logic Writing Assignment #7

In the final writing assignment, you will write a short essay (minimum 2 full pages) that examines the manner in which logic is used in your academic major. Write at least one full paragraph in response to each of the 5 following questions. If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions, figure out the answer by doing some research online or talking to your departmental advisor. State answers in your own words and cite any webpages that influenced your answers – otherwise you are committing Plagiarism.

(1) After stating what your major is, (A) describe in detail its subject matter and central issues. Then indicate the breadth of your major and its subject matter by (B) briefly describing its main subdisciplines, and (C) describing the primary methods your major uses to gain knowledge about its subject matter. (If the subject matter includes an activity like making artworks or treating medical patients, then your major generates practical as well as theoretical knowledge.) You will need to draw on the information presented here when answering the other questions.

(2) Deductive Arguments are used to apply general rules (Categorical Syllogisms) or particular rules (Propositional Arguments) to particular cases. What are the primary ways that your major gains knowledge about its subject matter by applying general or particular rules to particular cases? Illustrate with at least two examples that indicate the breadth of your major.

(3) Inductive Generalizations are used to form general principles that describe patterns or guide action. What are the primary ways that your major gains knowledge about its subject matter by forming general principles? Illustrate with at least two examples that indicate the breadth of your major.

(4) Analogical Arguments extend our knowledge about certain things by comparing them to other things that we know better. What are the primary ways that your major gains knowledge about its subject matter by making comparisons? Illustrate with at least two examples that indicate the breadth of your major.

(5) Causal Arguments and Inferences to the Best Explanation are used to judge competing explanations (e.g., explanations of the cause of a physical event, the goal or motivation behind a person’s actions, or the meaning of a statement) in order determine which explanation is most appropriate. What are the primary types of explanations that your major uses to gain knowledge about its subject matter? (Indicate what species of explanation each is, i.e., causal, teleological, interpretive, or procedural.) And what are the main ways that your major judges competing explanations? Illustrate with at least two examples that indicate the breadth of your major.

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. Cite all sources that influenced your answers, using any standard citation method that includes all of the relevant information (including exact page numbers if it is a printed source).

This assignment is worth 3 times as much as the other writing assignments. Staple the copy of Writing Assignment #5 with my comments on the back of your essay.

Format: 12 point type, double-spaced, 1-1.5 inch margins, minimum 2 full pages of content. Number and staple pages if more than one page.