The Science Of Scientific Writing    Set 9    Set 9-Analysis mapsSecond pageExampleExercise 1Exercise 2Exercise 3Exercise 4Exercise 5Refinement RevisitedRabbit RuleHolding Hands RuleExercise 6Inference objectionsExercise 7Exercise 8 Final.

Course Home

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


Inference objections

The precision of an Analysis map clarifies how a particular type of objection works: those objections that bears upon an assumption, rather than on a main claim.

Remember our smoking example?  Suppose we had this map:

Smoking objection reasoning map

It is structurally correct, but it doesn't show precisely how the objection works.  This map makes it much clearer:

Smoking objection analysis map

The objection undermines the assumption, rather than the main premise.  The person offering it may agree that John enjoys smoking, but doesn't agree that this is a reason for you to smoke.

Note: You might wonder why we've only shown one premise in the objection.  Nothing important would be gained by 'unfolding' it (it's a trivial claim connecting 'shouldn't' and 'don't need to').  Only show co-premises that improve or clarify your map.

(Jargon alert! The technical name for these objections is 'inference objections'.  You don't need a formal definition to do these exercises, but click here (pdf) if you like that sort of thing).

 

 

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