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Genesis Gutierrez
Composition II R34
Professor Windholz
24 September 2010
Credible Logic
A statement is a declaration asserted through speech or writing. The first two statements
of the assignment establish a persuasive claim about the subjects presented. The first statement
reads: All mammals are warm-blooded. A seal is a mammal. Therefore, a seal is warm-
blooded. Furthermore, the second statement reads: Children need to live near nature to care
about the environment. My cousins grew up in the city. Therefore my cousins do not care about
the environment. Throughout both statements, there is a reasoning process that concludes both
declarations logical and valid. Although, both declarations may not necessarily be true, they are
presented clearly and straight-forwardly enough to be considered coherent. Likewise, the
statements start off with a generalized declaration, which is used to deduce a more specific
conclusion. This indicates that the statements are supported and are reasonable in terms of cause
and effect. This again validates that they are logical. For example, statement one sets up the
generalization that all mammals are warm-blooded. Therefore, when the statement later
specifies that a seal is a mammal, the concluding sentence: a seal is warm-blooded, is very
much rational. Similarly, the second statements generalized sentence is children need to live
near nature to care about the environment, which is followed by a more precise subject of my
cousins [who] grew up in the city. Therefore, the closing sentence, my cousins do not care
about the environment, can be considered valid as well because there is evidence in the previous
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sentences that support the claim. Overall, both statements are direct and clearly stated which
contributes to their logic.
Statements three and four are also related to each other in terms of rhetpric and their
conclusions are unreasonable. The third statement reads:



Furthermore, the fourth statement is:




Both these statements have a topic. However, they do not have an argument that is logical or
persuasive. Accordingly, there is not enough supporting evidence for each conclusion. The third
statement refers to a Wednesday night, regularly occurring electromagnetic interference over
the Long Island South for the crash of these two flights. However, two airline flights set two
years apart, is not sufficient evidence to support a regularly occurring electromagnetic
intrusion. This shows that the statement is not very probable and thus illogical. Similarly, the
fourth statement argues that the pesticides are responsible for the lobsters decreasing population,
but there is no evidence of a direct correlation of pesticides in New York City effecting lobsters
TWA Flight 800 and Swissair Flight 111 both crashed shortly after taking off
from JFK airport in New York City in 1996 and 1998, respectively. No one
knows what caused either crash. However, since both planes evidently had an
explosion occur, which was triggered by electrical and electronic malfunctions,
both followed the same flight path, and both left JFK at around 8:30pm on a
Wednesday night, a strong probability exists that both crashes were caused by
some Wednesday night, regularly occurring electromagnetic interference over
the Long Island Sound.
The Mayor of New York City has defended the spraying of pesticides
against West Nile virus. He argues that humans are more important than
other organisms, such as insects, animals, and plants. Still, many object to
the spraying, which they believe to be harmful to humans and not just
insects, animals and plants. They cite, for example, the sudden drop in the
lobster population with Long Island Sound over the past year; those that
make their living off of lobstering claim that the pesticides have not only
killed the lobsters, but also their livelihood.
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in the Long Island Sound. In all, both statements cite coincidences that are not flat-footed. As
well, the statements themselves prove to not be accurate based on the vocabulary of words used
like: No one knows and they believe.
In conclusion, logical thinking is required to make a statement persuasive and concise.
Logical thinking requires rational ideas, supported reasoning, and must have the cause and effect
go hand in hand. As a result, if people are thinking logically then they will write logically.
Logical writing is well put together and very much an expression of logical thinking in a
different mode. Logical thinking and writing are considered very credible.
Word Count: 693