According to Epstien, there are 3 tests that an argument must go through to be good. An argument can pass certain tests but fail the others. They are independent of the others.
My argument for this assignment is that: I am enrolled in Math 123 at San Jose State University. Only students who receive a 90% or above on the math test receive an A. I received a 93% on the math test. Therefore, I received an A plus on my test.
First of all, my argument passes the first test. The premise for my arguments are certainly plausible. It is believable that I am a student at San Jose State University. It is also plausible that the teacher would have those grading guidelines.
Secondly, another requirement for the argument to be good is that the premise has to be more plausible than the conclusion. In this argument, the premise is certainly more plausible than the conclusion. It is not possible for the premise to be true and the conclusion false. There really could have been no other way to reach the conclusion without going through the premise.
Thirdly, the last test for an argument to be good is that the argument is valid and strong. My argument, in this case is certainly valid and strong. The premise is plausible, and the argument is strong because there is no plausible way that I could have achieved an A on the test without scoring a 90%. Assuming everything is say is true, it is a very strong argument.
Good evening. Hope that you are having a good week. I like how you involve the example within the definitions of the test of a good argument. The way you broke it down helped me follow the definitions and the example. Helped me understand how to test for an argument. I’ve been reading the book trying to understand this concept but the way that you describe it make the most sense. Giving me an example that I as a student could relate to helped. Thank you for breaking it down the way you did and making it easy to follow the concept.
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