Fundamental to the concept of reasoning is the idea of an argument, which is intended to reflect an inference or a connected series of inferences. Statements Statements are not to be confused with sentences. The statement that Clinton is thirsty can be expressed with different sentences. Explain Describe Report Warn Inferences Inferential claims are those that are expressed when it is claimed that a conclusion follows from or is supported by premises. You are asked to affirm the conclusion based on the support of the premises.
Conclusions are the claims to be supported.
Since she won't stay at home, she will therefore make a fool of herself on Ricky's show. The conclusion is that Lucy will make a fool of herself on Ricky's show. The premises offered in support of this claim include the dichotomy of her either making a fool of herself or her staying at home watching TV, and the additional claim denying that she will stay home. Premises and conclusions aren't always expressed in separate sentences. Since only Fred and Ethel had access to the FBI files and Fred was out of town, Ethel must have been the informant.