How to Find
a Conclusion
A Conclusion
-
must be a claim
-
must be a single claim
-
must be part of an argument
(have premises supporting it)
-
must be the main claim that
is being supported by the premises/the argument
TEST
Find
a premise. Say it out loud with "therefore" after it and then the potential
conclusion. Does it make sense?
OR
Say the
potential conclusion out loud with a "because" after it, and then say a
premise. Does it sound right?
If the claim in question
can be used as a premise for any other claim in the argument, it is not
the conclusion. Only when you find the claim for which the rest of the
argument serves as Premise/support have you found the conclusion!
A word (or several) of
caution:
-
Sometimes the claim is concealed.
Is it underlying a question or is it implied but not stated outright?
-
Ironic texts can be tricky.
Often, the conclusion is concealed in a claim that is saying exactly the
opposite of the true conclusion.