Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments
In this course, you will learn what an argument is. The definition of argument will enable you to identify when speakers are giving arguments and when they are not. Next, you will learn how to break an argument into its essential parts, how to put them in order to reveal their connections, and how to fill in gaps in an argument by adding suppressed premises.
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- Level Foundation
- Duration 25 hours
- Course by Duke University
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Offered by
About
In this course, you will learn what an argument is. The definition of argument will enable you to identify when speakers are giving arguments and when they are not. Next, you will learn how to break an argument into its essential parts, how to put them in order to reveal their connections, and how to fill in gaps in an argument by adding suppressed premises. By the end of this course, you will be better able to understand and appreciate arguments that you and other people present. Suggested Readings: Students who want more detailed explanations or additional exercises or who want to explore these topics in more depth should consult Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, Ninth Edition, Concise, Chapters 1-5, by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Robert Fogelin. Course Format: Each week will be divided into multiple video segments that can be viewed separately or in groups. There will be short ungraded quizzes after each segment (to check comprehension) and a longer graded quiz at the end of the course.Modules
Introduction
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Introduction to the Specialization
1
Readings
- Course Logistics (Start Here)
The Nature of Argument
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2
Videos
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1
Discussion
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Why Arguments Matter
- What Is an Argument?
1
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Reasons for Reasons
2
Videos
- Why Arguments Matter
- What Is an Argument?
The Purposes of Arguments
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3
Videos
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3
Discussion
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- What are Arguments Used For? Justification
- Strong Arguments Don't Always Persuade Everyone
- What Else are Arguments Used For? Explanation
3
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Prediction
- Share Your Thoughts: Both Justification and Explanation?
- Share Your Thoughts: Basic Explanations
3
Videos
- What are Arguments Used For? Justification
- Strong Arguments Don't Always Persuade Everyone
- What Else are Arguments Used For? Explanation
The Materials of Arguments
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2
Videos
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4
Discussion
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- What are Arguments Made Of? Language
- Meaning
4
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Arguing Animals
- Share Your Thoughts: Following Conventions
- Share Your Thoughts: Meaning as Use
- Share Your Thoughts: Reference and Description
2
Videos
- What are Arguments Made Of? Language
- Meaning
Levels of Language (OPTIONAL MATERIAL)
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3
Videos
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4
Discussion
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- Linguistic Acts
- Speech Acts
- Conversational Acts
4
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Buffalos
- Share Your Thoughts: When Can We Argue?
- Share Your Thoughts: Metaphor and Irony
- Share Your Thoughts: Jokes
3
Videos
- Linguistic Acts
- Speech Acts
- Conversational Acts
How to Identify an Argument
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2
Videos
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3
Discussion
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Argument Markers
- Standard Form
3
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Who Gives Reasons?
- Share Your Thoughts: Standard Form
- Share Your Thoughts: Numbering
2
Videos
- Argument Markers
- Standard Form
Stopping the Regress
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5
Videos
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5
Discussion
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5
Assignment
5
Assignment
- A Problem for Arguments
- Assuring
- Guarding
- Discounting
- Evaluation
5
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Solving the Skeptical Regress
- Share Your Thoughts: Abusive Assurances
- Share Your Thoughts: "I Believe"
- Share Your Thoughts: When to Discount Objections?
- Share Your Thoughts: Positive and Negative Evaluation
5
Videos
- A Problem for Arguments
- Assuring
- Guarding
- Discounting
- Evaluation
Close Analysis
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3
Videos
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Close Analysis (Part II)
- More Close Analysis
3
Videos
- Close Analysis (Part I)
- Close Analysis (Part II)
- More Close Analysis
Validity and Soundess
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2
Videos
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2
Discussion
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- Validity
- Soundness (Part I)
- Soundness (Part II)
2
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Determining Validity
- Share Your Thoughts: Truth
2
Videos
- Validity
- Soundness
Revealing the Basic Structure
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4
Videos
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3
Discussion
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- Get Down to Basics
- Sharpen Edges
- Organize Parts
3
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Tangents and Repetition
- Share Your Thoughts: Perfectly Clear
- Share Your Thoughts: More Structures?
4
Videos
- Get Down to Basics
- Sharpen Edges
- Organize Parts
- A Student Example: A Debate About Smartphones in Class
Completing the Argument
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2
Videos
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1
Discussion
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Fill in Gaps
- Conclude
1
Discussions
- Share Your Thoughts: Suppressed Premises
2
Videos
- Fill in Gaps
- Conclude
Reconstruction
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3
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- An Example of Reconstruction
3
Videos
- An Example of Reconstruction (Part I)
- An Example of Reconstruction (Part II)
- An Example of Reconstruction (Part III)
Final Quiz
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Final Quiz
Auto Summary
Discover the art of understanding arguments with "Think Again I: How to Understand Arguments," a foundational course in Personal Development led by Coursera. Learn to identify, deconstruct, and appreciate arguments through engaging video segments, quizzes, and readings. Perfect for beginners, this 1500-minute course offers flexible subscription options, including Starter, Professional, and Paid plans. Enhance your critical thinking skills and deepen your comprehension of informal logic.
Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
Dr. Ram Neta