Chapter 6

I found the use of false dilemmas useful. The concept talks about using the word “or” when really there are more than those outcomes. It’s like giving people the choice of chocolate or vanilla, when really they could get strawberry as an alternative. To me, the concept is like telling the truth, but not the whole truth.

Recently I was told that I either had to choose between commuting to my old gym in South San Francisco or quitting to find a gym closer to my new home. When I finally made up my mind that I would quit, I called and was told that there was actually another branch of the gym in San Jose! I was a little peeved that the first person I talked to about quitting didn’t inform me of this option and made me think that there were only two choices. The situation was so misleading and it really posed a false dilemma for me. In the end it wasn’t a real problem at all!

I think that when it comes to speaking, people say all sorts of things that don’t really make sense if you analyze them. Fallacies really bring those nonsensical things to light when you compare your claim to the different types of fallacies.

I think I really notice when people from other countries ask about sayings or things that I say without really thinking about their meaning. Lots of sayings don't actually make sense, but they are ingrained in the way we think. However, when we write or give a speech, we are not doing so in the way that we speak casually. I think that this understanding of the words we are saying really helps in making correct statements and claims in arguments.

I could make all sorts of crazy claims but they could easily shot down by reasonable fallacies. When using reason you can think more clearly to get your point across. It’s a lot like what lawyers and news writers do. You have to stick to facts that are clearly stated to win people over to your side.

Post 2

Strong arguments are ones with good evidence to back up the claim. There are good facts to back up the strong argument, whether or not it is actually true. A valid argument is just an argument that is correct. There is little reasoning behind the valid argument, so it doesn’t have a lot of ground to stand on.

An example of a strong argument: Every ingredient this restaurant uses is locally grown because they get all their foods from local farmers. Therefore, the food is all locally grown and then used at this restaurant.

An example of a valid argument: It’s always hot when it is the summer. Therefore when it is summer it is always hot. Although this may be true sometimes, it is not always true.

I’m not too sure if I understand the difference between a strong and valid argument! If anyone has comments or thinks these examples are not quite right, please help me out!

Week of 13-19th post 1

Recently, my manager keeps claiming, “It’s freezing cold at work!” Her subjective claim is obviously an exaggeration and also very subjective. The rest of the people in the department always complain about how warm they are while they are working. We are warm because we are running around and keeping busy. The manager thinks it is really cold because she sits in the back stock room and just goes on the Internet. Thus, she thinks it is cold because her workload does not involve moving, while everyone else thinks it’s warm because we are busy and not stagnant.

Last weekend I went shopping with my boyfriend so he could buy some new clothes for work. He tried on a shirt and I said, “that shirt is way too big for you.” This was an objective argument because it was clearly too big due to the fact that he grabbed the wrong size. It was a fact that the shirt was too big based on the common knowledge of how clothes should fit. A dress shirt for a professional job does not fit if it is made for someone twice your size. Now, I also said, “you look like a magician in that shirt,” but that would be a subjective argument.

Let me introduce myself

I'm just getting back to school after a two year break! I'm totally excited to be learning again and online classes are perfect for a busy person like myself.

I was an English major, then Journalism, and now Communications. I loved writing for the school paper, but couldn't envision such a stressful everyday life like that. After some research, I found Communications and thought that would be a better fit.

I haven't taken any classes with SJSU before, but imagine it will be a lot like SFSU. I'm looking forward to getting to know the different prose of people in the classes I'm taking this summer.

I like writing, reading, and reading about writing. I also like swimming, being outside, dogs, and eating.