College Composition / Unit 31 CMP 0755 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Detecting Unstated Assumptions
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The idea
An unstated assumption is a belief the argument depends on but never says, the warrant linking its evidence to its claim.
In practice
To find it, ask what a reader would have to believe for this evidence to prove this claim.
Where people slip
Once stated, an assumption can be tested; many weak arguments hide their weakest step there.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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