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SyllogismLessonPlanandVideo-1

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duaa.helmi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions - Logic Series | Academy 4 Social Change

Syllogism: Lesson Plan

Topic

Syllogisms are a form of deductive reasoning that typically uses a major premise
about a general topic and a minor premise about a particular thing to reach a
conclusion about a property of the particular thing.

Possible subjects/classes Time needed

Rhetoric, English, Politics, Debate,


20-30 minutes
Philosophy

Video link:

https://academy4sc.org/topic/syllogism-deducing-true-conclusions/

Objective: What will students know/be able to do at the end of class?

Students will be able to...


● Describe the structure of a syllogism.
● Explain the syllogistic fallacy.
● Distinguish between valid and invalid as well as sound and unsound
syllogisms.

Key Concepts & Vocabulary

Premise, Predicate

Materials Needed

Worksheet, Paper, Colored Pencils, Markers, Examples of Syllogisms from


Literature

Before you watch

Put the following syllogism on the board and ask students to consider why the
argument is correct:

1. All men are mortal.


2. Socrates is a man.
3. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions - Logic Series | Academy 4 Social Change

Have a small discussion about the conditions that make the conclusion true.

While you watch

1. What does it mean for an argument to be valid?


2. What are the three components of a syllogism?
3. What is it called when an argument has all true premises and a false
conclusion?

After you watch/discussion questions

1. Can you think of an example from literature or philosophy that uses


syllogism? (Hint: Shakespeare frequently uses them! If you can’t, create
your own!)
2. Why would you want to use a syllogism in your writing?
3. Why might you be persuaded by an invalid syllogism?

Activity Ideas

● Put some variations of the original syllogism on the board and ask students
what would change as a result. Would the argument still be valid? Why or
why not?
For example:
a. Change the second premise to “Elmo is a man.”
b. Change the first premise to “Some men are mortal.”
c. Change the second premise to “Elmo is mortal”, and the
conclusion to “Elmo is a man.”
● Hand out paper and colored pencils. Have students take ten minutes
illustrating their own syllogism. Make sure their poster/paper outlines each
premise and the conclusion as well as visually expresses the argument.
Have each student briefly share with the entire class or others around
them when the ten minutes is up.
Examine some syllogisms from literature by putting examples on the board
or passing out a sheet with them. This could be done with a book or article
the class is currently reading, but some examples can be found at LitCharts
and Literary Devices.

Sources/places to learn more

1. Nordquist, Richard. “Definition and Examples of Syllogisms.” Thought Co., 23


June 2019.
https://www.thoughtco.com/syllogism-logic-and-rhetoric-1692167.
Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions - Logic Series | Academy 4 Social Change

2. PhilHelper. “A Crash Course in Formal Logic Pt 6a: Categorical Syllogisms,


Terms, Mood and Figure.” Youtube, 14 July 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcNESCrkIiQ.
3. Stangroom, Jeremy. “Valid or Invalid? - Six Rules for the Validity of
Syllogisms.” Philosophy Experiments, 2020.
https://www.philosophyexperiments.com/validorinvalid/Default5.aspx.
Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions - Logic Series | Academy 4 Social Change

Syllogism: Worksheet
1. What is characteristic of a valid argument?
a. The premises and conclusion are all true.
b. The conclusion cannot be false if all the premises are true.
c. The premises are all true.
d. The premises are all true and the conclusion is false.

2. What are the three components of a syllogism?

3. Identify which of the following arguments are valid syllogisms. If they are invalid,
explain why.

A. 1. All cats eat meat.


2. Lions eat meat.
3. Therefore, lions are cats.

Valid or Invalid?
If invalid, explain why:

B. 1. No human has ever been to Mars.


2. Anne Hathaway is a human.
3. Therefore, Anne Hathaway has never been to Mars.

Valid or Invalid?
If invalid, explain why:

C. 1. All lakes are located in Canada.


2. Lake Tahoe is a lake.
3. Therefore, Lake Tahoe is located in Canada.

Valid or invalid?
If invalid, explain why:
Syllogism: Deducing True Conclusions - Logic Series | Academy 4 Social Change

D. 1. Everything that is yellow is also red.


2. Bananas are yellow.
3. Therefore, bananas are red.

Valid or invalid?
If invalid, explain why:

E. 1. All the people that I trust are people that I know.


2. I know Pinocchio.
3. Therefore, I trust Pinocchio.

Valid or invalid?
If invalid, explain why:

4. Essay prompt: Write a short story about getting ready for school in the morning that
includes five syllogisms.

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