Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing, 2nd Ed

38 SMART THINKING: SKILLS FOR CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING & WRITING

structure diagram

sub-argument

Review exercise 3

Answer briefly the following questions, giving, where possible, an example in your

answer that is different from those used in this book.

a. What happens to claims when they are linked together so that one gives a

reason for the other?

b. What traces of this linking process can we find in natural language?

c. What are the symbols in a structure diagram used for?

d. Are claims, when written in the analytical structure format, expressed

differently from those in natural language?

e. What are the similarities and differences between narrative flow and

analytical structure?

f. How do simple and complex reasoning structures differ?

g. Can a claim, in one example of reasoning, serve (in relation to a number

of claims) as both a conclusion and a premise at the same time?

h. What advantages and disadvantages are there in learning to use the analyt-

ical structure format?

NOTES

1 There is disagreement among philosophers about whether reasoning takes place directly

in language, or indirectly in the concepts that are expressed through language. For the

purposes of this book, I will take the second position. Of course, if an argument is well

written, then the indirect structure should be very clear. However, such clarity is rare in

most commonplace language.

2 While I focus on analysis in this book, I do not wish to understate the importance of

clear written expression. For more information, consult any of the many good books on

written communication that are available.

3 The casting method is commonly used in reasoning textbooks. It was developed princi-

pally by Michael Scriven. For an excellent, in-depth look at casting, see J. Rudinow and

V. Barry, Invitation to Critical Thinking, Wadsworth, Belmont, CA, 2003.