Notes about the chapter

Chapter 3: What Are the Reasons?

1. What are the reasons?

• Reasons are explanations or rationales for why we should believe a particular conclusion.

• Evidence refers to the facts that demonstrate the truth of the reasons.

2. Initiating the questioning process

• The first step in identifying reasons -> question why

• An argument consists of a conclusion and the reasons meant to support it.

3. Words that identify reasons

• as a result of

• because of the fact that

• is supported by

• studies show that

• for the reason that

• because the evidence is

4. Keeping the reasons and conclusions straight

• Try to develop your own organizing procedure for keeping the reasons and conclusions separate and in a logical pattern.

• Using this critical question

+ Weak reasons create weak reasoning!

• Reasons First, Then Conclusions

+ Reasons and evidences are the tool by which conclusions are shaped and modified.

5. Writing and speaking as critical thinkers

• What makes for a good issue and conclusion?

+ a clearly articulated and interesting question;

+ a focused and explicit conclusion;

+ a conclusion propped up by reasons and evidence that most people would find compelling;

+ a conclusion that addresses the issue;

+ a conclusion that is easy for a reader or listener to locate.

• Clarity comes through several processes:

+ indicator words;

+ researched and focused topic;

+ reasons that explicitly support our conclusion;

+ an organized structure to our essay.

-> Think of the issue, conclusion, and reasons as the skeleton of your argument. The stronger the skeleton, the stronger the argument.

List of new words or interesting expressions you learn from the reading (optional)

1. explicit (adj): rõ ràng, dứt khoát