Week 6 Question 3

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading this week, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

The Guide to Repairing Arguments is a helpful list that helps students, teachers, and everyone to turn a problematic argument into a better argument by adding a premise or conclusion that makes the argument better or stronger, is plausible or could be seem as plausible to the other person involved in the argument, and the premise is more plausible than the conclusion. This guide also allows for strong and valid arguments to have premises taken out, if the deletion of the premise does not affect the strength or validity of the argument.

The first step to repairing arguments is by making the argument strong or valid, to show the other person in the argument what needs to be assumed. By doing so, one must make sure that the premises do not lead to the conclusion being false. If a premise is found where it leads to the conclusion being false, there must be a plausible premise added to the argument so it becomes valid or strong. Eliminating ways for the premises to be true and the  conclusion to be false perfects the arguments and makes it better.

Another way to repair arguments is by adding indicator words. There are certain words to indicate conclusions and certain words to indicate premises. Indicator words are flags put on claims, to highlight what part of the claim is what, but they do not act as part of the claim. Some examples of conclusion indicator words are: so, therefore, hence, thus, etc. Some examples of premise indicator words are: since, because, given that, in as much as, etc.