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

GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS 181

narrative sequence plan

A plan for writing or presenting in which ideas are listed in the same order that they
will appear on the written page or in the presentation. The links between the ideas
are, thus, indications of the flow (rather than the analytical structure). Such a plan
is useful because it 'externalises' the order in a way that allows you to check it and
revise it. (See chapter 9.)

objective

Some philosophers regard knowledge and judgments as objective when they appear

to relate solely to the object that they make claims about (which may be a thing,

event, circumstance, or whatever). An objective claim is usually considered to be a

'true' claim. Other philosophers argue that no claim can ever be solely about the

object since language is an intersubjective medium, full of connotations and hidden

implications, which make it impossible to be objective. According to this view, the

'truth' of claims is settled intersubjectively, through a complex process of social

interaction that draws in part on objective knowledge but is different from it.

Compare with knowledge. (See chapter 9.)

order

A type of statement that is not a claim but that demands obedience from its audi-
ence. (See chapter 2.)

premise

In general terms, a claim that is used to argue for or explain another claim (the

conclusion). The term 'premise' is only meaningful in relation to a conclusion. (See

chapter 2.)

propositional logic

Occurs when an if/then statement (or its differently worded equivalent) is used to

propose, in the premises, a relationship between two states of affairs, or events, or

matters; normally the other premise in such arguments is the 'if component of the

proposition, permitting the 'then' component to be the conclusion. Often associ-

ated with deductive reasoning. (See chapter 7.)

purposes of reasoning
The purposes of reasoning are what arguments and explanations seek to achieve.
Arguments predict future events, establish what is or was the case, or show why a
certain action should occur. Explanations explain why something happened or is
happening, or they justify why someone did something. (See chapter 2.)

question

A type of statement that is not a claim but that genuinely seeks information. A
question can imply some relationship. Compare with analytical questions. (See
chapter 2.)