Test your basic knowledge |

Public Debating

Subject : soft-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Circular Reasoning






2. The inference says that one thing is a sign of another. It's usually used in an argument that something IS. The warrant to this argument is usually in the form 'X is a sign of Y'






3. The opposite of hyperbole - this is a deliberate understatement for effect.






4. Is a variation of Appeal to Ignorance. It is when you accept an argument that the presumption lies with one side and the other side has the burden of proving its case when the reverse is actually true






5. Religious liberty - limited government - entrepreneurship - military strength - traditional institutions - property rights






6. Assuming as a premise some form of the very point that is at issue - the very conclusion we intend to prove. Also called circular reasoning.






7. Ending repeated






8. All A are B - all C are B - therefore no A are C






9. 'When a qualified person says something is true - it's true' is a warrant for what arg?






10. Arguments that are flawed (not from formal logic)






11. beginning repeated at ending






12. Accepting the word of an alleged authority when we should not because the person does not have expertise on this particular issue or s/he cannot be trusted to give an unbiased opinion.






13. What order do definitional and qualitative stasis usually fall into when put into an argument?






14. Arguing that one thing caused another without sufficient evidence of a causal relationship.






15. _____ thought that the most worthy study is one that advances the student's ability to speak and deliberate on affairs of the state.






16. What kind of commonplaces 'deflect reality'






17. Whitewashes the effect of your topic to downplay it; less emotional than appropriate






18. Consistency - Decorum - Refutation Potential - Cliche and Mixed _____ are forms of judging ______(s)






19. The process of discrediting someone's argument by revealing weaknesses in it or presenting a counterargument






20. Is necessary to defend the weak against the strong - Is useful and necessary to the state and the individual because you become a more thoughtful citizen and a more well-rounded person - Is useful to have the tools to recognize good arguments and def






21. Are there enough examples to prove that point? Are the examples skewed toward one type of thing? Are the examples unambiguous? Could it be that the connection of general and specific doesn't hold in this case?






22. This is the name for fallacies that do not have another name but that involve a claim that does not follow from the premises (e.g. the evidence is not relevant or not appropriate to support the claim). Litterally translated as 'it does not follow -'






23. The belief that current thinking - attitudes - values - and actions will continue in the absence of good arguments for their change






24. Associated words or ideas with a vehicle or tenor






25. Show that an opponent's argument actually supports your side of the debate (often accompanied by a flip in values)






26. Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words - phrases - or clauses






27. Is another variation of the tu quoque; it is when you justify a wrong by saying that this is the way things have always been done






28. Metaphors use ____ and ____






29. Civil rights - economic justice - environmental stewardship - government as safety net - worker's rights - diversity






30. Arguing that the conclusion of an argument must be untrue because there is a fallacy in the reasoning. (Just because the premises may not be true - does not mean that the conclusion has to be false)






31. Usually has three parts: 1. (MP) Major Premise - unequivocal statement 2. (mP) Minor Premise - about a specific case 3. (C) Conclusion - follows necessarily from the premises






32. If A then B Not B Therefore not A






33. Taking the absence of evidence against something as justification for believing that thing is true.






34. Ask a rhetorical question






35. _____ said that concerning all things - there are two contradictory arguments that exist in opposition to one another.






36. Incorrectly assuming that one choice or another must be made when other choices are available or when no choice must be made






37. Is a variety of questionable cause; it is when you conclude that something cause dsomething else just because the second thing came after it; literally translated as 'after this - therefore on account of this'






38. A metaphor with a vehicle that draws upon a human experience that is universal






39. Accepting an argument by example that reasons from specific to general on the basis of relevant but insufficient information or evidence.






40. These seats or commonplaces of argument suggest inferences that arguers might make that are based on the habits of thought and value hierarchies that everyone shares






41. 'X is an sign of Y' is what arg's warrant?






42. Taking one idea and dividing it into two parts - disengaging the two resulting ideas - giving a positive value to one (Term II) and a lesser or negative value to the other (Term I). These are often based on the appearance/reality pair.






43. Are the terms of the metaphor coherent - or does it tell a story or paint a picure that fails to make sense internally?






44. Value Hierarchy Visualization in terms of high and low values (?/?)






45. Repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginning of successive clauses - sentences - or lines.






46. The inference compares two similar things - saying that since they are alike in some respects - they are alike in another respect. It can be a figurative analogy or a literal analogy. The warrant usually reads: 'if two things are alike in most respec






47. Letters to the editor - group discussions - talk show






48. Based on the setting - which dictates the ____ ____ used to determine who has won the debate - E.g. Academic Policy Debate: stock issues Criminal Court Case: beyond a reasonable doubt Civil Courtroom: preponderance of evidence This Classroom: were yo






49. 1. Applying the tests of reasoning to show weaknesses in arguments and develop counterarguments 2. Accusing opponent of using fallacious reasoning 3. Pointing out a flawed metaphor 4. Discrediting the ethos of opponent 5. Pointing out flawed statisti






50. An implicit comparison made by referring to one thing as another