Academic Writing

1. Academic Writing • What distinguishes Good Writing from Bad Writing? • Let’s Read from Robert Pirsig’sZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

2. Academic Writing • “Quality” - Pirsig (as Phaedrus) later becomes obsessed with this concept to the point of mental instability. • What’s the point here? • True writing is a sort of creative calling forth. It takes care and attention. There are no real tricks, shortcuts, or formulas. • You have to learn to look internally to evaluate your own work as you create it.

3. Academic Writing • Let’s come back to Earth. There are still practical techniques/ skills to master. • Let’s read “Writing in College”

4. “Writing in College” Answer the following, to be collected: What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses as a writer? (Make a T-Chart) What, if anything, surprises you about this reading?

5. Academic Writing • How confident are you in your ability to write successfully in college? Why? Relate your writing experience to the points made by Williams and McEnerney in the article.

6. Aristotelian Logic & Fashioning an Argument A Study of Deductive Reasoning

7. Why learn this stuff? • Logic = Reasoning • Basis of academic thought • Creation of argument

8. How do I demonstrate logic? • Make obvious, explicit connections between your major thoughts and ideas • You want someone to FOLLOW your train of thought.

9. Aristotle • Worked with syllogisms • Formal system of thought • Provides a method for connecting ideas together

10. Syllogism • Ex: 1) Wood floats in water. 2) Ships are made of wood 3) Therefore ships float in water.

11. Syllogisms • #1 and #2 are both a premise. • #3 is a conclusion

12. Syllogism Example Reiterated • Premise #1: Wood floats in water. • Premise #2: Ships are made of wood. • Conclusion: Therefore, ships float in water.

13. Syllogism Practice • If all humans are mortal, • and all Greeks are humans, • then all Greeks are mortal.

14. This type of logic isn’t perfect! • All chickens have two legs. • Aristotle has two legs. • Therefore, Aristotle is a chicken. =flawed However, this isn’t the point!

15. So? • When you write an essay, watch your premises. They should lead to a valid conclusion.

16. Examples – Fill in the missing component • All trees have root systems. • Therefore, All trees need nitrogen. • All root systems need nitrogen.

17. Examples – Fill in the missing component • All fruits grow on trees • Therefore, all oranges grow on trees • All oranges are fruits

18. Examples – Fill in the missing component • All bachelor's are single • Johnny is single, • Hence, Johnny is a bachelor

19. Ex: Logic w/o syllogism format • Everyday I go to work. This journey from my home to my office takes one hour. My office starts at eight o' clock in the morning. So, if I leave my home at seven o' clock in the morning, I will reach the office in time.

20. Argument Validity and Soundness

21. Argument: Validity • A deductive argument is said to be validif and only if it takes a form that makes it impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion nevertheless to be false. Otherwise, a deductive argument is said to be invalid.

22. Argument: Validity • Valid arguments do not require true premises.

23. Ex: Valid Argument – True premises • Either Elizabeth owns a Honda or she owns a Saturn. • Elizabeth does not own a Honda. • Therefore, Elizabeth owns a Saturn.

24. Ex: Valid Argument – False premises • All toasters are items made of gold. • All items made of gold are time-travel devices. • Therefore, all toasters are time-travel devices.

25. Argument - Soundness • A sound argument is one that is not only valid, but begins with premises that are actually true

26. Soundness • A deductive argument is sound if and only if • 1) it is both valid, and • 2) all of its premises are actually true. • Otherwise, a deductive argument is unsound.

27. Ex: Sound argument • No felons are eligible voters. • Some professional athletes are felons. • Therefore, some professional athletes are not eligible voters. QUANTIFIERS

28. Practice…