Exam 3: What Am I Going to Argue About

"The Bush Administration's methods of reducing the high cost of medical care have been ineffective," is an example of a proposition of

The dictionary problem refers to the problem that we often need to define terms using synonyms and a standard dictionary seldom provides synonyms for a word.

When we define terms operationally, we turn to some authoritative source, such asBlack's Law Dictionary.

A vague term need not be defined since the listener or reader of argumentation will supply his own definition.

The dictionary problem is that a standard dictionary does not necessarily tell us the meaning or a word or term as it is used in a particular field.

Propositions of fact assert a relationship between things, events, or persons.

In a factual proposition, the argumentative ground concerns opposing evaluations of a person, event, idea, or object.

"Restrictions on foreign imports will not solve the problems of American industry" is an example of a proposition of

A behavioral definition of a term tells us what function that term performs.

"The university's operating budget can be significantly reduced by changing to a ten- week semester system," is an example of a proposition of

This type of argument specifies how something should be classified or understood.

The wording of a proposition points to the kind of change the advocate must support.

"Changing the academic calendar can be an effective way to reduce the university's operating budget." Which of the terms in this proposition is the value object?

"By a six-day academic week, I mean a schedule in which four-credit classes will meet for one hour and forty-five minutes and courses will be blocked in a Monday- Wednesday-Friday or a Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday pattern," illustrates which technique of definition?

It is best to phrase a proposition in such a way that the audience knows your exact feelings about the topic.

"Selected senior students can be adequately prepared to teach entry level courses at this university ." Which of the terms in this proposition is the value judgment term?

What must the advocate do in defining the value judgment term?

Propositions should be phrased so that they contain several different ideas about the object of change and the kinds of changes that might be made.

"Protecting the welfare of the American farmer is more important than balancing the Federal budget," is an example of a proposition of

However you choose to define a term, the definition should include all items which properly fall under the term being defined, and exclude all items which do not.