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Exercises for Premise and Conclusion identifiers

1. Which of the following can identify a premise?

thus
so
since
therefore

2. Which of the following can identify a conclusion?

assuming that
as a result
as a matter of fact
as everyone knows

3. "Red is a better choice for me, because it brings out the color in my cheeks." What sort of claim does "because" identify here?
premise
conclusion
neither

4. Which of the following pairs has a premise identifier, followed by a conclusion identifier?
so, therefore
thus, therefore
for, since
since, so

1. Which of the following can identify a premise?

You answered:

since

Correct!

"Thus," "so," and "therefore" are the most common conclusion identifiers. The only premise identifier on the list is "since." Consider the argument, "Since it's Monday, I have my critical thinking class." Here, "since" identifies the premise, "it's Monday."

2. Which of the following can identify a conclusion? You answered:

as a result

Correct!

3. "Red is a better choice for me, because it brings out the color in my cheeks." What sort of claim does "because" identify here? You answered:

premise

Correct!

4. Which of the following pairs has a premise identifier, followed by a conclusion identifier? You answered

since, so

Correct!

Notice that most arguments will have a premise identifier or a conclusion identifier, but not both. For example, "Since Peggy had no money, I paid for her" or "Peggy had no money, so I paid for her." An example with both would be, "So, since Peggy had no money, I paid for her."

1. Which of the following can identify a premise?

You answered:

thus

"Thus," "so," and "therefore" are the most common conclusion identifiers. The only premise identifier on the list is "since." Consider the argument, "Since it's Monday, I have my critical thinking class." Here, "since" identifies the premise, "it's Monday."

1. Which of the following can identify a premise?

You answered:

so

"Thus," "so," and "therefore" are the most common conclusion identifiers. The only premise identifier on the list is "since." Consider the argument, "Since it's Monday, I have my critical thinking class." Here, "since" identifies the premise, "it's Monday."

1. Which of the following can identify a premise?

You answered:

therefore

"Thus," "so," and "therefore" are the most common conclusion identifiers. The only premise identifier on the list is "since." Consider the argument, "Since it's Monday, I have my critical thinking class." Here, "since" identifies the premise, "it's Monday."

2. Which of the following can identify a conclusion?

You answered:

assuming that
An "assumption" is another word for a "premise," so "assuming that" is a premise identifier. The only conclusion identifier on the list is "as a result." Results, in this context, are conclusions, and causes are premises.

2. Which of the following can identify a conclusion?

You answered:

as a matter of fact

That is neither a premise identifier nor a conclusion identifier. The only conclusion identifier on the list is "as a result." Consider the claim, "Therefore, the resolution is unconstitutional." It must be a conclusion, as identified by "therefore." Because "as a matter of fact" can be inserted into the claim without any logical consequences, "Therefore, as a matter of fact, the resolution is unconstitutional." it cannot be used to identify an inference.

2. Which of the following can identify a conclusion?

You answered:

as everyone knows
That is neither a premise identifier nor a conclusion identifier. The only conclusion identifier on the list is "as a result." Consider the claim, "Therefore, the resolution is unconstitutional." It must be a conclusion, as identified by "therefore." Because "as everyone knows" can be inserted into the claim without any logical consequences, "Therefore, as everyone knows, the resolution is unconstitutional," it cannot be used to identify an inference.

3. "Red is a better choice for me, because it brings out the color in my cheeks." What sort of claim does "because" identify here?

You answered:

conclusion

"Because" introduces a cause, and in logical terms the cause is the premise, and the effect is the conclusion.

3. "Red is a better choice for me, because it brings out the color in my cheeks." What sort of claim does "because" identify here? You answered:

neither

"Because" introduces a cause, and in logical terms the cause is the premise, and the effect is the conclusion.

4. Which of the following pairs has a premise identifier, followed by a conclusion identifier?

You answered:

so, therefore
But both "so" and "therefore" are conclusion identifiers.

Notice that most arguments will have a premise identifier or a conclusion identifier, but not both. For example, "Since Peggy had no money, I paid for her" or "Peggy had no money, so I paid for her." An example with both would be, "So, since Peggy had no money, I paid for her."

4. Which of the following pairs has a premise identifier, followed by a conclusion identifier?

You answered:

thus, therefore
But both "thus" and "therefore" are conclusion identifiers.

Notice that most arguments will have a premise identifier or a conclusion identifier, but not both. For example, "Since Peggy had no money, I paid for her" or "Peggy had no money, so I paid for her." An example with both would be, "So, since Peggy had no money, I paid for her."

4. Which of the following pairs has a premise identifier, followed by a conclusion identifier?

You answered:

for, since

But both "for" and "since" are premise identifiers.

Notice that most arguments will have a premise identifier or a conclusion identifier, but not both. For example, "Since Peggy had no money, I paid for her" or "Peggy had no money, so I paid for her." An example with both would be, "So, since Peggy had no money, I paid for her."

Congratulations!

You have finished the exercises on premise and conclusion identifiers.

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