Student’s name: Bui Thi Thu Trang Lecturer: Le Thi Bich Thuy, M.A.

Asking the right questions: Chapter 5 handout

Part I: Theory

True or False?

1. Most media pundits make explicit the value assumptions in their arguments.F
2. Often a conclusion is an assumption. F
3. Many important assumptions are unstated beliefs that fill in the gap between the reasons and the
conclusion. T

Gap filling

1. Assumptions are hidden or unstated, ………taken for granted………., influential in determining the
conclusion, and ………potentially deceptive…………………… .

2. ……A value assumption……………….………… is an implicit preference for one value over

another in a particular context.

3. ……………assumptions………….………are unstated beliefs that support the explicit reasoning.

4. ...........Values..................................... are the unstated ideas that people see as worthwhile.

5. A teacher argues that the best learning experiences for students are group projects and grades should
be given to the group rather than to individuals in the group. It is likely that he is making a value
priority assumption that …………cooperation ……………………………… is preferable to ………
competition…………………… .

Choose the correct answer

Reverse role playing is most similar to

A. reversing the reasons provided by an author.

B. identifying with the writer or speaker.

C. putting oneself into the position of someone who disagrees with the author's conclusion.

D. challenging an author's values.

Short argument: Residential Advisors need to do much more to impose consequences on students in the
resident halls who keep playing their music too loudly. It seems clear from what I’ve seen that people are
not taking enough self initiative to follow the guidelines recommended by the university. Therefore,
Resident Advisors have to get more assertive in enforcing the rules. These immature noise makers can’t be
expected to change without someone more strongly enforcing the rules.
Which of the following best reflects a value priority assumption that links the reason to the conclusion,
given the discussion of value assumptions in Chapter 5?

A. Noisy students aren’t going to take responsibility for their own behavior. Descriptive

B. Noise shouldn’t have to be tolerated. Value

C. Collective responsibility is more important than individual responsibility. Value

Student’s name: Bui Thi Thu Trang Lecturer: Le Thi Bich Thuy, M.A.
D. Serious students are preferable to noisy students. value

E. The right to play music is less important than the right to study effectively value

F. Resident Advisors are not as assertive as they should be. value

G. Actions are more important than words. value

For each of the following argument, identify the reasoning structure and assumption(s).

Argument 1

I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places. Research has shown that tobacco
consists of carcinogenic compounds which cause lung, mouth and throat cancers, not only for smokers
themselves, but also for people around them.

Reasoning structure:

Conclusion: I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places. Smoking should be banned

Reason:

+ Tobacco not only affect the smokers, but also people around them

- Tobacoo consists of carinogenic compounds which cause lung, mouth and throat cancers

Assumptions (value assumption): It is more important to value public health than it is to value individual
interest. Freedom of choice

Value conflict: equality - individualism

Argument 2

Tom is one of the most skilled athletes I know. He plays every sport that the school offers, even football,
wrestling, and soccer. He's the captain of the cross-country team, and last year the swimming team he was
on had a winning season.

Conclusion: Tom is one of the most skilled atheletes I know.

Reason:

- He plays every sport that the school offers

- He’s the captain of the cross-country team
- He had a winning season.

Assumption: Whoever plays every sport that the school offers, be the captain of cross-country team, has a
winnning season are most skilled athletes.
Student’s name: Bui Thi Thu Trang Lecturer: Le Thi Bich Thuy, M.A.
Argument 3: Giving students a fail grade will damage their self-confidence. Therefore, we should not fail
students. 

Concluison: Therefore, we should not fail students

Reason: Giving students a fail grade will damage their self-confidence

Assumption: It is more important to value student’s self-confidence than to value the truth. (value
assumption)

Argument 4: This stamp is probably highly valuable, since it exhibits a printing error. The most important
factors in determining a stamp’s value, assuming it is in good condition, are its rarity, and age. This is
clearly a fine specimen, and it is quite old as well.

Conclusion: This stamp is probably highly valuable

Reason:

- The most important factors in determining a stamp’s value are: good condition, rarity and age
 It clearly a fine specimend and quite old
 It exhibits a printing error

Assumption: Descriptive assumption: Any stamps which have printing errors are rare

Value conflict

Argument 5: Hundreds of colleges now require their students to lease or buy a laptop computer. The theory
is that the computers will help students do research and increase their chances for interactive learning. Yet in
many classrooms, laptops have become more of an obstacle than an enhancement to learning, and
professors need to think seriously about prohibiting their use during class time. Many students who
bring their computers to class do not use them to take lecture notes or refer to web sites for more information
about the professor’s lecture topic. Far from it. In the history classes I teach, many laptop users don’t even
pretend to pay attention to my lecture or to participate in the discussion. They are more inclined to visit
networking sites like MySpace; e-mail or instant message their friends, and even shop online. No wonder,
then, that so many of them have ended up with low grades or are flunking out altogether. Many of these
same kids no longer know how to produce an original thought on their own. Ask them a question and they
search the Internet rather than think. For me, this was the last straw. Laptops, like cell phones, have no place
in my classroom until someone can prove to me that they really are the great boon to education I have been
promised.

Conclusion: Unless laptops are proved to be beneficial, they shouldn’t be used in the classroom.

Issue: Should student’s laptop usage be limited in the classroom?

Reason: In many classrooms, laptops have become more of an obstacle than an enhancement to learning.

- many students have ended up with low grades or are flunking out altogether
+ Many students who bring their computers to class do not use them to take lecture notes or refer to
web sites for more information about the professor’s lecture topic
 Many laptop users don’t even pretend to pay attention to my lecture or to participate in the
discussion
Student’s name: Bui Thi Thu Trang Lecturer: Le Thi Bich Thuy, M.A.
 They are more inclined to visit networking sites like MySpace; e-mail or instant message their
friends, and even shop online
- Many of these same kids no longer know how to produce an original thought on their own.
+ Ask them a question and they search the Internet rather than think.

Assumption: (value assumption): The writer think it is more important to value the negative effect of
laptop computer rather than their benefits.

the writer think that laptops are more of a hindrance than a help in the classroom.

Argument 6: I personally believe that when kids wear their " STREET" clothes they are expressing how
they feel. Kids wear certain clothes because that's the kind of clothes they like. If kids wore uniforms
everyday to school, they would all look alike. You wouldn't be able to tell which people were your friends
because everyone would be wearing the same outfit. Plus you can tell all the kids apart. You can tell if they
are fun to play with or if they're boring. You can also tell if the kids are your friends or if they aren't. NO: I
don't think schools should make kids wear uniforms.

Conclusion: Schools should not make kids wear unifroms.

Reason:

- Wearing unifroms can not make kids be different from each others
 You wouldn't be able to tell which people were your friends because everyone would be wearing
the same outfit
- when kids wear their " STREET" clothes they are expressing how they feel

Assumption: The author think it is more important to value individualism rather than equailty