Critical Thinking Skills - Developing Effective Analysis and Argument(2)

Activity: Selecting out the argument (2)
ur shields are up,
The earthlings won't be
\ able to detect our research
\_mission this time either.
other intelligent life.
Analysis of Passage 4.17
anyone out there
Is there
The numbers in brackets refer to the tasks set in
the activity box on page 59.
(1) Conclusion It is unlikely that there is
extraterrestrial life (line 18). The final
sentence summarises the argument that
supports this conclusion.
(2) Reason 1 For over 100 years, radio waves
have been used to track space for signs of
life and so far have uncovered nothing (lines
18-20).
(2) Reason 2 This uses the refuted argument
referred to in (3) below, that it is probable
that the exacting conditions required for life
(chemicals and physics, water and
atmosphere) are unlikely to be found again
(lines 3540).
(3) Author's consideration of opposing
theories The author considers alternative
theories such as convergence and plenitude
theories. These are refuted in lines 35-40
and the refutation is harnessed as a reason
to support the conclusion.
(4) Introduction Lines 1-5.
(5) Description Lines (1 1-16) describe
contingency theory. They list the key points
of the theory. Although the author does
describe this argument as 'compelling', no
reasons are given to show why it is
compelling, so this is description, not
argument or explanation. In this case, the
description is also likely to be a summary of
longer accounts of the theory.
(6) Explanation Lines 23-33 explain
convergence theory. Unlike lines 11-16,
these lines do more than simply list or
describe what the theory says. Instead, they
give examples to help clarify what is meant
by the theory and draw out general
principles from those examples: 'this
suggests that . . .' (line 29). They also bring
out what is significant about the theory:
'This suggests that although there may be
infinite possibilities in the universe, nature
tends to repeat itself.'
(7) Summary of the material so far: lines
16-17. 'Thus, we have very divergent
theories on whether there is life out there or
not.'
(8) Background information Lines 5-8
'One traditional argument. . . bear
intelligent life', present background
information to set the scene. The argument
isn't introduced until line 18. Further
background information is presented in
lines 10 to 16: 'Not so, argue those who
subscribe to contingency theory. . .
processes could ever occur again.'
60 Critical Thinking Skills
I
0 Stella Cottrell (ZOOS), Critical Tlzinking Skills, I
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd