Page 175 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade8_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 2.13
continued
Highlighting logos
my Notes
Second Read
• Reread the passage to answer this text-dependent comprehension question.
• Write any additional questions you have about the text in your Reader/Writer Notebook.
1. Key Ideas and Details: What kind of appeal does the writer use at the beginning of this article: logos, pathos, or ethos? Why is it effective?
Working from the Text
2. What evidence is used to convince others that texting and driving is dangerous? Is this evidence logical, relevant, and convincing?
3. Now that you have examined and identified the use of the three “appeals” used to convince an audience, explain why logos is the most important appeal to be able to use skillfully.
4. Notice how the different appeals overlap in an argument.
What Is Sound Reasoning?
Sound reasoning stems from a valid argument whose conclusion follows from its premises. A premise is a statement upon which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn. In other words, a premise is an assumption that something is true.
For example, consider this argument: Premise: A implies B;
Premise: B implies C;
Conclusion: Therefore, A implies C.
Although we do not know what statements A, B, and C represent, we are still able to judge the argument as valid. We call an argument “sound” if the argument is valid and all the statements, including the conclusion, are true.
This structure of two premises and one conclusion forms the basic argumentative structure. Aristotle held that any logical argument could be reduced to two premises and a conclusion.
Premises: If Socrates is a man, and all men are mortal, Conclusion: then Socrates is mortal.
A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or unsound. Common fallacies include:
• claiming too much
• oversimplifying a complex issue
• supporting an argument with abstract generalizations • false assumptions
• incorrect premises
Word CoNNeCTIoNS
Multiple Meaning Word
When you hear the word “sound,” you probably think of noise, but “sound” has many meanings. It can mean free from error, showing good judgment, or being logically valid, such as in “sound advice” or a “sound argument.” A “sound heart” is one free from defects, and a “sound sleep” describes sleep that was deep and undisturbed.
Grammar USaGe
Conditional Statements
Statements of premises and conclusions, also known
as syllogisms, are always formed as conditional statements that are finished with a conclusion.
148 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 8
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