Un-rules for Good
Writing
1
2
3
4
. Don’t use no double negatives.
. Make each pronoun agree with
their antecedent.
. Join clauses
good like a
conjunction should.
. About them
sentence fragments.
Slide 5.1
5. When dangling, watch your
participles.
6. Verbs has to agree
with their subject.
7. Just between you and
I, case is important too.
8. Don’t write run-on
sentences they are hard
to read.
Slide 5.2
9. Don’t use commas, that aren’t necessary.
10. Try to not ever split infinitives.
11. Its’ important to use your apostrophes
correctly.
12. Proofread your
writing to see if
you any words
out.
Slide 5.3
13. Correct spelling is esential.
14. A preposition is a poor word
to end a sentence with.
Slide 5.4
Contingent Statements: Statements
that Can be Proven True or False




Speeches with evidence are more persuasive
than speeches without evidence.
There is a curvilinear relationship between life
stress and the amount of self disclosure used by
interpersonal communicators.
Among highly ego-involved individuals,
speeches using deliberate ambiguity are more
persuasive that speeches that do no use
deliberate ambiguity.
Bodies of aliens from outer space are located in
Area 51 in Nevada.
Pseudo-Statements
 Not
tested by degree of correspondence
with actual events
Slide 5.6A
Pseudo-Statements
 Not
tested by degree of correspondence
with actual events
1. Definitions:
statements that
assert that one
term may be
substituted
for another
Slide5.6B
Pseudo-Statements
 Not
tested by degree of correspondence
with actual events
1. Definitions:
(evaluated for
usefulness)
Slide 5.6C
statements that
assert that one
term may be
substituted
for another
Pseudo Statements
2. Tautologies: statements that must
be true by their very construction
People are lazy because they are
unmotivated.
Charismatic leaders are hopeful
because they are optimistic.
Sensationalism in the news uses
exaggerations.
Slide 5.7
Pseudo Statements
3. Contradictions: statements that
must be false due to their very
construction
A noisy quiet
original copy
“fresh frozen”
Bosnian government
jumbo shrimp
Slide5.8
Categorical Syllogism
 Major
Premise: All men are mortal
 Minor premise: Socrates is a man
 Conclusion: (Therefore,) Socrates is mortal
Slide 5.9
Venn Diagram
Things that
are Mortal
Men
Slide 5.10A
Venn Diagram
Things that
are Mortal
Men
Socrates
Slide 5.10B
Venn Diagram
Things that
are Mortal
Men
Socrates
Slide 5.10C
Major Term
Venn Diagram
Things that
are Mortal
Major Term
Men
Minor Term
Socrates
Slide 5.10D
Venn Diagram
Things that
are Mortal
Major Term
Men
Middle Term
Minor Term
Socrates
Slide 5.10
Conditional Syllogism Forms
 Major
Premise: If p, then q
 Minor
Premise: p
 Conclusion:
Slide 5.11
q
or
not q
not p
Logic of the Conditional Syllogism

Major Premise:
If a newscaster is credible, then the news
broadcast will be respected by the public

Minor Premise:
A newscaster is credible

Conclusion:
the news broadcast will be respected by the
public
Slide 5.12
Logic of Using Hypotheses

Major Premise:
If a newscaster is credible, then the news
broadcast will be respected by the public

Minor Premise:
the news broadcast is not respected by the
public
Conclusion:
A newscaster is not credible
Slide 5.13
Denying the Antecedent in
Research

Major Premise:
If a newscaster is credible, then the news
broadcast will be respected by the public

Minor Premise:
A newscaster is not credible

Conclusion:
the news broadcast still may be respected
because it has a strong public affairs division
Slide 5.14
Affirming the Consequent
Research

Major Premise:
If the RCQ is a valid measure, then much
valuable research will have been spawned

Minor Premise:
much valuable research has been spawned

Conclusion:
the RCQ is a valid measure
Slide 5.15
Errors in Research Arguments
 Fallacies
of Overgeneralization
Hasty Generalizations
Extrapolation
 Fallacies of Distraction
Personal Attacks
Appeals to Authority
Appeals to Ignorance
 Begging the Question
Slide 5.16