CATA 335 McGaan
Practice
Exercises 8 - Answers
The following arguments contain claims and grounds. You must infer and write out the
warrant. Then create an appropriate
qualifier, reservation, and backing for this argument.
1. [gr.] The patient's test results show her illness
is caused by a staph infection.
[cl.]Her
doctor should prescribe penicillin for her.
w. Penicillin is the recommended treatment for staph
infections. (policy)
b. according to THE PHYSICIAN'S DESK REFERENCE,
the authoritative source.
q. probably
r. unless she is allergic to penicillin.
2.
[gr.]
A substantial majority of Americans favor
banning expression that is offensive to one or another religious group.. Therefore,
[cl.] we
should enact such a ban without delay.
w. The U.S. laws should reflect the views of
the (substantial) majority of citizens.
(definition)
b. according to my Government Professor, an
expert on democratic principles
q.
most likely
r. unless it violates the constitution
3. [gr.]Since Lawrence University, one of our ACM
sister schools, offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Music, [cl.]Monmouth
should too.
w. Monmouth and Lawrence are both liberal arts
colleges, similar in all important respects.
(analogy)
b. The ACM charter indicates that the
association is composed of a group of similar, selective liberal arts colleges
sharing a common view of higher education.
q. perhaps
r. unless there is
insufficient student interest to support such a program at Monmouth
w.
Stumbling over words is a sign of a speech impediment. (sign)
b.
According to the Standard Manual of Speech Pathology, a well
respected text in the field.
r. Unless the stumbles are caused by nervousness.
5. [gr.]The government=s drug czar has pledged to use military forces inside the United States to police cities after natural disasters, in spite of the warnings that such action might be unconstitutional. [cl.] I think we should not do it.
w. we should obey the constitution - def./authority)
b. according to the Supreme Court
r. unless anarchy has made constitutional government impossible.
last updated 9/15/2005