PLAYING with Logical Argument Forms (key)
Convert each argument from paragraph form to standard form. Some paragraphs may have implied premises that will need to be made explicit in the standard form.

1. Deduction/Syllogism: Major Premise + Minor Premise + Conclusion
Problem: Is Bob an outstanding tennis player?

What makes Bob an outstanding tennis player is his repertoire of trick shots. Most tennis players don’t use trick shots effectively, but outstanding players do, and Bob possesses an unusual number of trick shots. My favorite trick shot of his is the ultra-high lob he hits from between his legs when he is facing away from the net.

1. Outstanding tennis players use trick shots effectively.
2. Bob possesses an unusual number of trick shots, including the ultra-high lob he hits from between his legs while facing away from the net.
Therefore, Bob is an outstanding tennis player.
 

2. Deduction/Syllogism: Major Premise + Minor Premise + Conclusion
Problem: Our jails are full of peopleconvicted of drug possession. How could one argue for decriminalizing drug possession?

Simple possession of illicit drugs should be decriminalized in America. Drug laws completely miss the mark in their effort to solve America's drug problem. Legislators don't realize that drug addicts are only hurting themselves when they use drugs, and it doesn't make sense to lock someone in prison unless their behavior hurts other people.

1. People should be found guilty of a crime when their behavior hurts other people.
2. People hurt only themselves when they possess and use illicit drugs.
Therefore, simple possession of illicit drugs should be decriminalized.
 

3. Induction: Evidence 1 + Evidence 2 + Evidence n + Conclusion
Problem: Why would the university care whether there are enough parking spots for students?

A business must keep its customers in order to remain successful, and customers may choose to do business elsewhere if a business does not provide parking spaces for them. Universities must provide parking spaces for students. If they don't, they may lose enrollment because students will go to schools where parking is not an issue.

1. Businesses need to keep their customers in order to be successful.
2. Businesses will not be able to retain their customers if they do not provide parking for them.
3. A university is essentially business, and its customers are students.
Therefore, in order to remain successful, a university must provide adequate parking for its students or it will lose them to other institutions that do provide adequate parking.
 

4. Deduction & The Conditional Argument: If X and Y, X, therefore Y

The problem: How can the university create more parking spaces without creating new parking lots or ramps?

Paragraph form:
The University should encourage people to car pool in order to reduce demand on its limited parking space. The University could encourage people to car pool by charging parking rates based upon the number of occupants in the car; the more occupants, the lower the rate per hour. People will car pool because it saves each person money, and if more people car pool (as opposed to driving individually), fewer parking spots will be needed.

1. If more students were car pooling instead of driving individually, fewer parking spots would be needed at the university.
2. Students will car pool when they can save money by doing so.
Therefore,the university can create more parking spaces by basing parking rates upon the number of people in each car.