TFY - Chapter 2

Summary

This chapter shows how inferences differ from facts. While facts are things that are known and verifiable, inferences go beyond facts by making guesses and conclusions from facts. Inferences must be distinguished from facts through the understanding that an inference is an interpretation of facts. We use inferences to fill in for missing facts, but faulty inferences can be harmful to our reasoning. The excerpt on Sherlock Holmes uses several inferences to describe his client’s trip to see him. When done well, inferences can build upon each other and tie facts together in a chain of reasoning; when faulty inferences are used the chain of reasoning is broken. The inference of the boy who home during school hours is a case in point. The correct conclusion (ask him what is up) was based as much on what was not known as on what was known. Facts and inferences can be used in order to make generalizations, but hasty generalizations are hazardous. A topic sentence is a type of generalization that summarizes the main idea of its paragraph.

Exercises

1. What was the professor trying to teach his students?

The teacher was trying to teach his students independent thinking.

2. What inferences does he expect them to make?

He expected them to give their own views on the Bill of Rights and defend the Constitution of the United States against his extreme views.

3. What inferences do they make?

They make no inferences. They are too busy writing.

4. What clues led you to your own conclusions about this cartoon?

The students would only write his views, and at the end would not question a single word.

5. How would describe the teacher’s teaching style?

The teacher’s style was challenging, however the students followed like a herd of sheep.