Deck 2: Where Do I Begin in Argumentation

Question 1

The basic mental structure of the reasoning process is one of the elements in argumentation that is field invariant.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If something in argumentation is field dependent, this means it's a concept such as the nature of cause-effect reasoning that does not change from one field to another.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

If something in argumentation is field invariant, this means it's a concept in a particular field, such as the critical standards for reviewing movies, and will change from field to field.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Presumption identifies which side in a controversy presently occupies the contested ground.

Question 5

Artificial presumption is established through law or government practice.

Question 6

Natural presumption is established by observing the order of nature or common practice.

Question 7

Presumption is always determined by the laws which govern society.

Question 8

It is necessary to determine who has presumption in argumentation in order to determine who has the burden of proving a change is necessary.

Question 9

The beliefs of an audience should never be used to determine presumption.

Question 10

The advocate always has presumption at the beginning of argumentation.

Question 11

To determine who has the burden of proof, you first have to determine who occupies the contested ground.

Question 12

The burden of proof always falls upon the arguer who has the benefit of presumption.

Question 13

Presumption describes what exists; it does not pass judgment on what exists.

Question 14

The burden of proof always falls upon the party who asks for a change in existing belief or behavior.

Question 15

In fulfilling the burden of proof, the advocate judges or evaluates present beliefs and/or behaviors.

Question 16

The concept of inherency identifies the broad general topic to be argued.

Question 17

For a prima facie argument to exist, the advocate must demonstrate the inability of a belief or behavior to self-correct.

Question 18

The concept of inherency suggests that the reason for change is the consequence of some shortcoming in existing beliefs or behaviors.

Question 19

The concept of inherency identifies the contested ground over which argumentation takes place.

Question 20

A stock issue is a standard question or set of questions that may be applied to a proposition to determine what will be argued.

Question 21

Argumentation can be characterized as being

A)a social activity.
B)an intellectual activity.
C)a verbal activity.
D)All of the above

Question 22

Argumentation can be characterized as involving

A)opinion stating.
B)opinion justifying.
C)opinion refuting.
D)All of the above

Question 23

Argumentation can be characterized as being

A)directed toward an audience.
B)political in nature.
C)self-reflexive.
D)All of the above

Question 24

A field of argument

A)is a social or professional context in which people argue
B)is the basic unit of argument
C)establishes the tests we apply to determine the quality of information used to prove arguments
D)is static and unchanging once established.

Question 25

The person who communicates to encourage a change in belief or behavior is referred to as the

A)advocate.
B)opponent.
C)spokesperson.
D)prime mover.

Question 26

The person who acts to discourage a change in belief or behavior is referred to as the

A)advocate.
B)opponent.
C)spokesperson.
D)prime antagonist.

Question 27

In the proposition, "Changing the semester structure to a ten-week semester with a six-day academic week would achieve substantial savings for NMU," artificial presumption would:

A)require the opponent to begin argumentation because this is a substantial change.
B)suggest that we presently believe a semester structure with a six-day academic week will not necessarily achieve substantial savings over the present structure.
C)suggest that we presently believe that reducing the semester from 15 to 10 weeks will achieve substantial savings.
D)require the advocate to define "substantial savings."

Question 28

In the proposition, "A nuclear waste dump would benefit the local economy," artificial presumption would

A)require the advocate to provide reasons why the local economy needs "benefiting."
B)require the opponent to begin argumentation.
C)suggest that we presently believe the local area does not need a nuclear dump to benefit its economy.
D)suggest that we presently believe the local area does need a nuclear dump to benefit its economy.

Question 29

When using natural presumption as a tool for audience analysis, it is advisable to ask such questions as

A)to what groups do members of the audience belong.
B)to what sources of information do audience members accord deference.
C)what is the popular or unpopular opinion on a particular subject.
D)All of the above

Question 30

When using natural presumption as a tool for audience analysis, it is advisable to ask such questions as what information on a subject might

A)hold the advantage of novelty.
B)be easily found on the Internet.
C)reflect artificial presumption.
D)All of the above

Question 31

When we use argumentation to test a hypothesis, presumption is

A)artificial.
B)natural.
C)not employed.
D)assigned to the advocate.

Question 32

The benefit of presumption is granted to

A)the advocate.
B)the opponent.
C)the proposition for argumentation.
D)the focus of the locus.

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a description of presumption?

A)It identifies the shortcomings in existing beliefs and behaviors.
B)It identifies sources of information which provide good reasons for changing belief or behavior.
C)It describes existing beliefs, policies, practices, or institutions.
D)It is a decision rule that determines what the advocate must prove in testing the propositions as a hypothesis.

Question 34

The is the obligation of the advocate to contest the figurative ground of argument by offering arguments which are logically sufficient to challenge presumption.

A)burden of proof
B)burden of rebuttal
C)burden of refutation
D)burden of presumption

Question 35

The burden of proof is the logical opposite of

A)presumption.
B)inherency.
C)topicality.
D)a prima facie case.

Question 36

The term prima facie argument refers to the responsibility of the:

A)opponent to present arguments which are sufficient to convince a reasonable person that the proposition is valid.
B)advocate to present arguments which are sufficient to convince a reasonable person that the proposition is valid.
C)opponent to present arguments which are sufficient to convince a reasonable person that the proposition is invalid.
D)advocate to present arguments which are sufficient to convince a reasonable person that the proposition is invalid.

Question 37

Staying within the subject area of the proposition is the advocate's responsibility for doing what?

A)Assuming the burden of proof.
B)Developing a topical prima facie case.
C)Arguing inherency.
D)All of the above

Question 38

When someone has presented a prima facie case, it is the same as saying that they have assumed the burden of

A)rebuttal.
B)presumption.
C)refutation.
D)proof.

Question 39

Inherency is the term used to describe the concept that

A)the reason for change is a consequence of some shortcoming in existing beliefs or behaviors.
B)existing beliefs or behaviors will self-correct if given enough time.
C)change is the natural course in human events.
D)existing problems can be identified by examining human beings as dwelling simultaneously in the state of being and the process of becoming.

Question 40

Why is inherency crucial to constructing a prima facie case?

A)Advocates must identify the cause(s) of a problem or a need for knowledge.
B)Advocates must determine whether inherency is "structural" or "attitudinal" because attitudinal inherency can be more difficult to overcome.
C)We take it as a given that if the cause of a problem cannot be found, we cannot determine how to solve it; if there is nothing to stimulate a quest for knowledge, we are unlikely to search for it.
D)We generally recognize that because the advocate seeks change, she has a more difficult task because she is required to use cause-effect reasoning.