Reasoning and Argumentation 101
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
Dr. Meredith Verrochi
FINAL PROJECT
Your final project for this course consists of the reconstruction and evaluation of several
SUB-ARGUMENTS and the MAIN argument of Judith Jarvis Thomson’s article, “A De-
fense of Abortion.” Thomson’s work is a well-known, often cited piece that challenges
the validity of the argument most commonly used by opponents of abortion.
A close analysis consists minimally of identifying the main argument and relevant sub-
arguments, arranging those arguments into standard form, and then evaluating the ar–
gument according to the relevant criteria. Note well that your final project is worth a
substantial percentage of your overall course grade. (100 points)
Note that many of the relevant sub-arguments are arguments from analogy. Your task is
to RECONSTRUCT these analogies according to standard form for arguments from
analogy and then EVALUATE the argument according to the standard of strength for
arguments from analogy. Your evaluations should be no less than one paragraph and
