just a quick post

I've been thinking a lot about my upcoming presentation on critiquing arguments. I don't know if I want to bring up formal logic or not. In my opinion, I don't have enough space to give even the briefest introduction to logic justice. However, I am concerned that without the logic explained, the true reason behind an argument being deemed a "good" argument will go unevaluated. As I imagine teaching argument analysis to my students, I don't want to neglect the underpinning logical axioms.

I believe my way of understanding is odd. Reflecting on what has worked for me i.e. what has improved my writing and what has improved my ability to construct and evaluate arguments, I know that an understanding of the foundations benefits me the most. However, research suggests that studying grammar in the traditional style doesn't help students improve in anything else besides knowing grammar; there is no benefit to their writing. Would the same be true for logical foundations?

To get more specific, in my view I see understanding the foundations as a means to remove the particulars from a linguistic construct. Without the particulars to trip up understanding, an individual can begin to evaluate a construction based primarily on its skeletal structure. Having only the skeletal structure, the straightforwardness of the construct is revealed, thus allowing the individual to review their understanding of logical foundations to see if the construct's skeleton is logical. I don't know if that makes sense, but I am trying to basically say this:

Suppose you are given this argument:

Duffs are never cold clams.
If Duffs are never cold clams, then heat seeking yams will drop apples.
Therefore, heat seeking yams will drop apples.

This argument is about imaginary objects, but the logical skeleton is completely valid. By understanding the logical foundations, the risk of being tripped up by the non-sensical particulars is removed, leaving an individual capable to still say something about the argument's quality of reasoning.

Bell has rung, must go.