Exercise 3

OVERVIEW: The way to well-written science

How to do the Course

PART I: Paragraphs and Sentences

SET A: Paragraphs: The Maps Behind Them

SET B: Paragraphs: Using Maps to Meet Readers' Expectations

SET C: Paragraph Coherence and Cohesion

SET D: Sentences

SET E: Scientific Sections (including Methods)

SET F: Scientific Sections: The Discussion

SET G : Scientific Sections: The Introduction

SET H : The Paper as a Whole

Exercise 3

Of course, you can also work straight from text rather than from a reasoning map. Try this now.

1. Create an Analysis map that show the hidden premise in this argument:

Staff meetings are good for you because they contain useful information.

Drag and drop sections of the above text onto the workspace to proceed. This works with any version of Rationale.

Hints

Drag the relevant portions of the text onto the workspace to make claim boxes
Remember to refine all claims according to the rules you learnt back in set 4
You have two choices:
- Either connect the boxes first, then select 'Analysis' in the 'Change' section of the ribbon pane (all lower level items automatically convert to reasons - if you wanted objections instead, you'd then need to use the 'Box' button)
- Or use the 'Box' button to turn the main claim green to show it is a reason, then use the 'Analysis' button to turn it into an analysis box, then connect up your map.
Add a new claim box to show the hidden assumption and make sure you drag this into the existing reason area, rather than representing it as a second reason
Work out what belongs in this new claim box by looking for key words that appear in the position and the main claim, but not in both

2. Check your work against the model.

Content of this page drawn in whole or part from the Austhink Rationale Exercises with permission from Austhink.