ANALYZE the syllogisms below. Answer the following questions for each syllogism:
1. Is this syllogism deductive or inductive? Why?
2. Is the syllogism deductively valid? Why or why not?
3. Identify the premises and the conclusion for each syllogism.
Syllogism 1
All college students are required to take a Humanities class.
Critical Thinking is a Humanities class.
All college students take Critical Thinking.
Syllogism 2
All college students study.
Ernie is a college student.
Therefore, Ernie studies.
Syllogism 3
All college students attend class.
Cindy attends class.
Therefore, Cindy is a college student.
Syllogism 4 (This syllogism is different.)
Two girls submit an assignment,
The two submissions are identical,
Therefore, ___________________ (you provide the conclusion to make this a Deductive Syllogism)
PART 2:
You are the principal of a middle school. Two 7th grade girls are brought into your office by their teacher, who accuses the girls of cheating. Each student submitted an identical, typed report and claimed that it was her original work. There appears to be no one who can verify either story. Who, if either of them, is cheating? How would you go about determining who cheated and who did not....or if both did not cheat or if both cheated? What unstated premises are you relying on when conducting the investigation?
You are now a prosecutor. You are about to deliver your closing argument to the jury regarding this case. The judge, who is old and crabby, says, "Counsel....I am old and don't have much time. Don't waste my time any longer. All you are allowed to provide the jury is an inductive or deductive syllogism that concludes with the proof that either one, or both, of the girls cheated. Now hurry it up!"
COMPOSE an inductive syllogism, in proper form (see the class textbook reading), which concludes that one, or both, of the girls cheated.
COMPOSE a deductive syllogism, in proper form (see the class textbook reading), which concludes that one, or both, of the girls cheated.
IDENTIFY the unstated premises.