FOUNDATION IN LAW / BUSINESS

CTS1204/SKL1353
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
TASK WEEK 3

Key terms:
Statement - is something that we say or write which gives information.
It is viewed as true, false or debatable.
Argument – providing evidence or reasons to support a claim or disputed conclusion
Premises – reasons or evidence given to support a conclusion
Conclusion – One’s position or point of view

A. For the following, state which are statements and which are not statements.

1. Please close the door.

2. If you don’t close the door, the dog will get out.
3. Read Chapter 3 before the next class.
4. Why is the sky blue?
5. Mushrooms are the summer homes of elves.
6. Go to hell!
7. I did see an extraterrestrial.
8. Don’t rush! Think through each question before answering.
9. Malaysia Boleh! Malaysia Boleh!
10. Chelsea will definitely win the World Series next year.
11. Who was the Prime Minister in 1984?
12. Eat your vegetables.
13. The 2010 Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver.
14. The 2010 Winter Olympics were held in Miami.
15. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
16. Earth is the only place in the entire universe where life exists.
17. Why are there no penguins in Lake Erie?
18. There was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy.
19. Joe believes there was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy.
20. I believe there was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy.

©P.Gopala Krishnan/ CTS/ APR 2020 intake

B. Determine which of the following are arguments and which are not. (Don’t worry about
whether the arguments are good or bad; just distinguish the arguments from the non-
arguments.) Then for each of the arguments, state the conclusion.

1. If the moon is made of green cheese, then there are mice on the moon. The moon is made of
green cheese. Therefore, there are mice on the moon.

2. I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

3. Raspberry Surprise ice cream has big chunks of real fruit! What a combination! Rich ice
cream with delicious fruit; it’s my all-time favorite ice cream.

4. Wheaties®1 is a nutritious cereal. After all, Datuk Nicole David appeared in Wheaties
advertisements, and Datuk Nicole David is certainly healthy; so Wheaties must be nutritious.

5. Requirements for this course include three exams and two papers. You must pass at least
two of the three exams in order to pass the course, and you must make a B or better on both
papers in order to make a B or better in the course.

6. Last summer Joe promised Sarah he would be faithful to her, and he cheated on her. Last
spring he made the same promise to Veronica, and he cheated. This past winter he promised
to be faithful to Joan, but he ran around on her. And last fall he pledged to be faithful and true
to Ann, and he broke that pledge. So now Joe is telling you that he’s going to be faithful to
you; but listen, that man’s going to cheat on you.

7. The team with the best pitching always wins the World Series. So the New York Mets will win
the World Series, since the Mets have the best pitching.

8. The Yankees won the World Series when they had the best pitching staff in baseball; the
Dodgers won the World Series when they had superior pitching; and when the Cardinals won
the World Series they had the best pitching. So the team with the best pitching staff wins the
World Series.

9. When you are cooking fettucine alfredo, be careful not to overcook the pasta. If the pasta is
overcooked, it will stick together, and the sauce will not spread evenly over the pasta. Also, I
recommend that you serve a green salad with the fettucine, and be sure to have plenty of red
wine.

10. All lecturers own private jets. My critical thinking lecturer is a professor; therefore, he
must own a private jet.

©P.Gopala Krishnan/ CTS/ APR 2020 intake

C. In groups, brainstorm and design a G.O. for the Commercial Ad entitled
Little Indian Boy (Petronas Merdeka Ad).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6tFho35B0

In your discussion, observe the setting (Location, time and economy status), characters,
language and tone, arguments, premises as well as conclusion.
Illustrate in form of a comprehensive and an effective G.O.on a mahjong sheet.
Consider your audience are your course mates hence, pace the G.O. based on their level.

(You will be presenting this task in class on Monday, 7 September 2020)

©P.Gopala Krishnan/ CTS/ APR 2020 intake