Week 2 · Readings & resources

Week 2 — Readings & Resources

Critical Thinking Free sample edition

Your primary reading is Chapter 2 (in this module). Everything below is the optional, go-deeper layer — pick what helps, skip the rest.

How to use this page

This page has 10 items (4 readings and 6 videos). Allow 70–87 minutes for everything. Each group points back to the matching chapter section and class-session segment, so use the full menu when you want more, or take the quick path below.

Every video here has captions: turn them on with the CC button in the player. The chapter covers the same ideas in text.

Pick-one quick path (18–23 min total)

① Laying an argument out and filling its gaps

Chapter 2, Section “Supply what is missing: unstated premises and conclusions” · Session 1, Segment 2, “Unstated premises and conclusions” · Remember: write each premise on its own numbered line, and mark any premise you add as supplied.

Argument Standard Form - Definition, Examples, Benefits — Logic & Philosophy — a short explainer on listing premises and the conclusion on separate, labelled lines and why that makes an argument easier to check; this builds on Week 1's work with finding premises and conclusions, so compare its layout with the chapter's P1, P2, "So," and C lines. (video, 6 min) (captions: creator)
Argument Mapping 8: Adding Missing Premises — Argument Mapping — a walk-through of finding the unstated premise an argument needs and adding it to the structure; as you watch, notice how the added premise is kept separate from what the arguer actually said. Use it while working through the Week-2 module overview. (video, 12 min) (captions: automatic)
Assumptions in Critical Thinking — Gary Meegan — a two-minute tutorial on the assumptions that sit underneath a line of reasoning; afterward, write one assumption behind the chapter's student-center argument as a premise marked supplied. Its closing remark about deductive and inductive reasoning is not how this course draws that line; next week, Deductive and Inductive Reasoning, takes it up. (video, 2 min) (captions: creator)

② Reading an argument fairly

Chapter 2, Section “Read with charity: the most reasonable version” · Session 1, Segment 3, “The principle of charity” · Remember: choose the most reasonable reading the words allow, and never invent a view the arguer did not hold.

The Principle of Charity (Ninety Second Philosophy) — Carneades.org — a ninety-second definition of the principle of charity; watch it twice and say in one sentence how charity differs from agreeing. (video, 2 min) (captions: automatic)
The Principle of Charity: Assume the Best Interpretation of People's Arguments — Effectiviology — a plain-language article on reading other people's arguments in their most reasonable form; read the section on how to implement the principle, and notice its caution that your charitable reading might still be wrong. (reading, 10–15 min)

③ Drawing the structure: maps and the Toulmin layout

Chapter 2, Section “Draw the map: linked versus independent premises” · Session 2, Segment 4, “Argument maps” · Remember: linked premises support the conclusion only together, while independent premises each give some support on their own.

Argument Mapping 3: The Dependent Reasons Relationship — Argument Mapping — a video on reasons that only work together, which the chapter calls linked premises; pause after each example and run the cover-up test before the video gives its verdict. Stop here before judging whether a map's links are valid; next week, Deductive and Inductive Reasoning, takes that up. (video, 9 min) (captions: automatic)
Argument map: Key features — Wikipedia — an encyclopedia section on the parts of a standard argument map, including dependent premises (co-premises) and independent premises; read this section only and match its two terms to the chapter's linked and independent premises. (reading, 8–12 min)
The Toulmin Model of Argumentation — David Wright — a six-minute tutorial on the six Toulmin parts, which it calls claim, evidence, warrant, backing, rebuttal, and qualifier, worked on a sample argument about old cars and an old car advertisement; as you watch, notice which part does the same job as a supplied premise. (video, 6 min) (captions: automatic)
Toulmin Argument — Online Writing Lab — a writing lab's short page on the Toulmin method, which calls the data "grounds"; read it and list the six parts in the chapter's wording. (reading, 5–8 min)

Optional one-stop reference (free online reference)

Informal Logic, section 3: Standardizing Arguments — online Encyclopedia of Philosophy (reference entry) — a reference entry's section on putting real-life arguments into a standard list of premises and a conclusion, including restating rhetorical questions and supplying unstated parts; read section 3 only and skip its later material on testing arguments. (reading, 10–15 min)

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell your instructor and use the reference above in the meantime.

Provenance: Built with The Course Maker · samples.thecoursemaker.com