Argument or Statements

For each of the following passages, indicate whether it is an argument or not an argument.

1. Since Tuesday, John has believed in a new world order.
2. Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum. The other one recommends that you chew gum with sugar in it. He also recommends that you eat as much of this sugary gum as you possibly can and that you refrain from brushing your teeth or flossing. Finally, he urges you to avoid bathing.
3. Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum. But I don’t chew gum, so presumably, they wouldn’t recommend sugarless gum for me.
4. Imitation butter is better than real butter, because it spreads very evenly over popcorn.
5. Imitation butter is very dear to me. Indeed, I often spread it over my entire body and muse, “You are the only one for me. You are my lotion, my oil, my destiny.”
6. Real butter is very bad for you, but imitation butter is good for you.
7. If marijuana isn’t any stronger than alcohol, then it shouldn’t be illegal.
8. If marijuana isn’t any stronger than alcohol, then it shouldn’t be illegal. But it isn’t any stronger than alcohol.
9. Abortion should be illegal. It’s selfish, immoral, and when you get right down to it, a form of murder.
10. Abortion is a form of murder and should not be legal.
11. Because the work is starting to pile up, we shouldn’t do any of it.