Summary; Rules for Writers Chapter 48, Week 9

Chapter 48 in Rules for Writers says you must evaluate all arguments for logic and reason. Some of these are; fallacies, generalizing, analogies,assumptions, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, emotional appeals, and judging opposing views.
The text gives us examples of how to determine what are reasonable arguments or otherwise known as logical fallacies. Fact gathering and making a decision from these facts are, according to the chapter, generalizing(inductive reasoning) and has to be determined by evidence gathering. Analogies compare the similarities of two things that are different such as arguing facts in court by opposing counsel. If we assume something is true without checking proof of it that is called an assumption and it is sometimes used in writing depending on its merit of importance. Another example in chapter 48 is deductive reasoning, taking facts and put them together to establish a connection. There are 3 stages of deductive reasoning, called a syllogism; Major premise, minor premise and the conclusion. The text goes on to say, emotional appeals may be legitimate or can be unfair. for instance, a legitimate appeal would be politicians appealing to their constituents that the change they are looking for will happen if they vote for them. Unfair attacks as an example would be based on bias, someone who might have an ax to grind on a particular group or may have a different belief on a subject. In the end we see from this chapter that judging fairly on opposing views builds credibility.
Using the steps in chapter 48 will help me to make better critiques of my own papers and others. I will be asking these questions of myself as I write to make sure I am evaluating and making reasonable arguments about the content and never assume what I write is truth without getting different viewpoints and opinions by searching out the evidence. It makes sense when you write that the content of your writing has legitmacy and critical thinking.