Purchase Solution

Arguments that Pass Tests of Truth and Relevance

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Locate a Twitter feed, Facebook profile, or other social presence for a celebrity. This can be an actor, athlete, musician, or even a religious figure. Choose someone that you are interested in, or someone you've heard a lot about and want to investigate. Remember: You do not need to join a social network to view this information. See Next Steps in the above lesson for more tips on finding this information.

Once you find your subject, observe the ways in which this well-known person chooses to represent himself/herself online. Note trends in the posts by using the criteria that was provided in the lesson, and write 2 paragraphs that describe what you saw.

Here are tests for an argument:
1. Test of Truthfulness of the Premises - The reason is true in each of its premises, explicit and implicit.
2. Test of Logical Strength - If the reason were true, then the conclusion (claim) would be true or very probably true.
3. Test of Relevance - The truth of the claim depends on the truth of the reason.
4. Test of Non-Circularity - The truth of the reason does not depend on the truth of the claim.

Next, describe your selected argument in one paragraph, and then share your observations in 1-2 paragraphs. Did your argument pass the tests? Did it fail the tests? Formulate an argument that you could make based upon the evidence that you saw. State your argument and write 1 paragraph about how your argument would pass the four argument tests, or where you might need more information.

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

This detailed solution takes an example from social media based on a celebrity and evaluates how the celebrity represents him/herself online. Based upon this the writer makes an argument about the celebrity, and then evaluates if the argument holds up to the four tests for an argument. Examples and APA references are included.

Solution Preview

Here you go - hope this helps and that you like Michael Phelps! Good luck.

I chose to look up Michael Phelps, "the most decorated athlete from the 2012 Olympics" on Facebook (2012). In researching his Facebook page, I was impressed with his dedication to charity, and his ability to combine charity with his star power in sports to create good. Michael Phelps's posts are regular, documenting his charitable activities. This past week his posts include a visit on "Meet the Press" with Denzel Washington and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America president to promote water safety and swimming through the club. A previous post advertises the ability for fans (of which Michael has more that 6 million on Facebook) to bid on the headphones he wore before Olympic races. Michael points out in his posts that all proceeds will go to the Michael Phelps ...

Solution provided by:
Education
  • BA, University of Southern California
  • MSS, United States Sports Academy
  • Ed.D, Boise State University
Recent Feedback
  • "Thk u"
  • "Thank you!:)"
  • "Thank you!:)"
  • "Thank you!:)"
  • "Thank you!:)"
Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
The Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

How well do you know Poe? This brief quiz will take a look at key plot points, characters, and settings of several of Poe's short works.

Outsiders Chapter 1 Quiz

A quiz that checks the knowledge students have from the first chapter of the novel "The Outsiders" by SE Hinton

Wuthering Heights

This quiz will review some of the salient aspects of the novel's plot, setting, characters, and theme. It will constitute a brief check of factual information, with an occasional interpretive element. For those students reading Wuthering Heights for the first time, or for those readers returning to the book, the quiz will serve to reinforce understanding and to enable recall of the first few chapters and basic outline of the novel.

APA in-Text Citation Basics

Executing correct documentation format can be difficult. This is a brief quiz regarding in-text citations for APA format that will help you to master the basics.

Vocabulary for Poetry

Vocabulary definitions matched to terms related to poetry. As poetry moves from rigid forms to more flowing, an understanding of language is needed. This quiz offers a brief introduction to the language arts.