2 Evaluating Evidence and Reasoning Free Online FlashCards

What is a claim in an argument?

A claim is a statement offered for acceptance.

How can you assess an evidence source’s credibility?

Check who produced it, what expertise or method supports it, and whether its facts and references can be verified. A polished appearance alone does not guarantee accuracy.

What does a survey of 16 of 20 students in one class support?

It supports the limited claim that most surveyed students in that class prefer later starts. It does not establish the preferences of the whole school or academic effects.

How can a bar chart’s vertical axis distort comparisons?

A vertical axis that starts above zero can make small differences look dramatic. Check the scale before judging the size of a difference.

Does correlation alone prove causation?

A pattern or correlation alone does not prove that one factor caused another. Causal claims need additional evidence and consideration of other explanations.

Why may several sources repeating one report provide weak corroboration?

Compare each source’s evidence and methods. Multiple sources are not decisive corroboration if they all repeat the same original report.

What is a hasty generalization?

Hasty generalization is drawing a broad conclusion from too few or unrepresentative examples.

What does it mean for a claim to be unsupported?

An unsupported claim lacks adequate evidence or reasoning. It may be true or false; the argument simply has not established it.

What makes evidence relevant to a claim?

Evidence is relevant when it directly bears on the claim being evaluated. Reliable information can still be irrelevant to a particular claim.

What does sufficiency of evidence mean?

Evidence is sufficient when there is enough of it to justify the claim’s scope and certainty. Broad claims generally require broader, stronger support.

What is post hoc reasoning?

Post hoc reasoning treats the fact that one event followed another as proof that the first event caused the second.

What is a false dilemma?

A false dilemma presents two choices as the only possibilities even though other options exist.