PHIL 347 Critical Thinking Week 4
Checkpoint Quiz, 2026/2027 –
Question Practice Assessment with
Verified Solutions
Based on what you have read in the text, the lecture, and any other
sources you find helpful to your understanding of deductive arguments,
explain the structure of a deductive argument in your own word. - ANSWERS-
A deductive argument is a logical reasoning process where a conclusion is
reached based on premises (evidence, facts, or statements) that are
believed to be true. The structure of a deductive argument typically consists
of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
Go to the box "Deductive Reasoning" (in the beginning of Chapter 8).
Read the last paragraph there. Based on that reading and any other
sources you find helpful to your understanding, describe the part that
"rules, operating conditions, core beliefs, values, policies, principles,
procedures, and terminology" (p. 159) play in deductive arguments. -
ANSWERS-We use principles and guidelines to set rules and beliefs. These
help us analyze claims and arguments.
In the introduction to Chapter 8, the text sets forth a specific definition
of the term "valid" as it applies to deductive arguments. What is that
definition? - ANSWERS-a scenario where the premises are true and the
conclusion is also true
Use the following template to create a valid Denying the Consequent
, argument example:
if_________________ then _______________
It is not the case that ______________________
Therefore, it is not the case that ________________. - ANSWERS-If a student
were to pass the Critical Reasoning class then they would need to receive a
76% or higher. It is not the case that the student will receive 76% or higher.
Therefore, it is not the case that the student passed the Critical Reasoning
class.
Use the following template to create a valid Affirming the Antecedent
argument example:
If_______________ then____________
________________________________
Therefore ______________________ - ANSWERS-If I work out then I won't be
tired I worked out
Therefore, I am not tired
Jack says: "I can enroll full time this semester, or I can buy a car. I think going
to school full time is the better option for me, so I'll have to put off buying
car." What name does the text give to this argument structure? Your Answer:
- ANSWERS-Based on the text, the argument structure represented here is
disjunctive syllogism
in addition to if/then and either/or, there are other terms that, when used
correctly, can create valid argument templates. Using the three deductive
statements below, create five (5) valid deductive arguments. To make your
life easier, you can use the keywords at the end of the statement to fill in the
template. - ANSWERS-"Given A, B, or C, but not C, it must be either A or B. If
it's not the case that both A and B are true, then either A is not true or B is
not true. If neither B nor C is true, then B is false and it must be C. A is only
true if B is true, so if A is true, then B must be true too.
Checkpoint Quiz, 2026/2027 –
Question Practice Assessment with
Verified Solutions
Based on what you have read in the text, the lecture, and any other
sources you find helpful to your understanding of deductive arguments,
explain the structure of a deductive argument in your own word. - ANSWERS-
A deductive argument is a logical reasoning process where a conclusion is
reached based on premises (evidence, facts, or statements) that are
believed to be true. The structure of a deductive argument typically consists
of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
Go to the box "Deductive Reasoning" (in the beginning of Chapter 8).
Read the last paragraph there. Based on that reading and any other
sources you find helpful to your understanding, describe the part that
"rules, operating conditions, core beliefs, values, policies, principles,
procedures, and terminology" (p. 159) play in deductive arguments. -
ANSWERS-We use principles and guidelines to set rules and beliefs. These
help us analyze claims and arguments.
In the introduction to Chapter 8, the text sets forth a specific definition
of the term "valid" as it applies to deductive arguments. What is that
definition? - ANSWERS-a scenario where the premises are true and the
conclusion is also true
Use the following template to create a valid Denying the Consequent
, argument example:
if_________________ then _______________
It is not the case that ______________________
Therefore, it is not the case that ________________. - ANSWERS-If a student
were to pass the Critical Reasoning class then they would need to receive a
76% or higher. It is not the case that the student will receive 76% or higher.
Therefore, it is not the case that the student passed the Critical Reasoning
class.
Use the following template to create a valid Affirming the Antecedent
argument example:
If_______________ then____________
________________________________
Therefore ______________________ - ANSWERS-If I work out then I won't be
tired I worked out
Therefore, I am not tired
Jack says: "I can enroll full time this semester, or I can buy a car. I think going
to school full time is the better option for me, so I'll have to put off buying
car." What name does the text give to this argument structure? Your Answer:
- ANSWERS-Based on the text, the argument structure represented here is
disjunctive syllogism
in addition to if/then and either/or, there are other terms that, when used
correctly, can create valid argument templates. Using the three deductive
statements below, create five (5) valid deductive arguments. To make your
life easier, you can use the keywords at the end of the statement to fill in the
template. - ANSWERS-"Given A, B, or C, but not C, it must be either A or B. If
it's not the case that both A and B are true, then either A is not true or B is
not true. If neither B nor C is true, then B is false and it must be C. A is only
true if B is true, so if A is true, then B must be true too.
