Checklist for Paper #1


Analysis of the argument
___ Have you identified an issue in the text you are analyzing? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
___ Have you clearly identified the author's conclusion? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
___ If there is a conclusion, have you clearly labeled the premises that support it? What makes you see them as premises?

___Have you identified the main or most important premise with which to construct an enthymeme with the conclusion?
___ Have you determined what the implied premise is for that enthymeme (or found a claim in the text that is acting as the major premise)?

___Have you formed a syllogism from the implied premise, the main premise, and the conclusion?

Evaluation of the argument

___ Have you applied the 4 criteria for cogent reasoning?

___ Are the premises reliable?
___ Are the premises relevant to the conclusion?
___ Are the premises adequate to ensure the conclusion?
___ Is the argument valid?

 

Overall paper
___ Does your paper
make an argument about whether the reasoning in the text you chose to analyze is cogent?
___ Do you support your conclusion
with good reasons and evidence from the text?
___ Do you have a thoughtful focus, forefronting the major insights of your analysis/evaluation?
___ Do you consider and refute opposing perspectives?
___ Have you supported your points with quotations from the text?
___ Is your grammar, punctuation, spelling, and format correct?