Article Review Part II: Understanding by Logic

Purpose: Recognizing, describing, and creating patterns are foundational to mathematical reasoning and are critical in decision-making. The purpose of this assignment is to use mathematical reasoning to analyze a situation based on logical thinking.

Assignment Goal: Describe, differentiate, and identify the types of statements that are foundational to logical reasoning. Recognize conclusions in an authors' work and develop conjectures based on the evidence presented.

Instructions: Recall the information related to mathematical and logical reasoning from the reading assignments in Chapter 1 and Chapter 3. As you read the article, think about the case the authors are trying to make and the data that is being used to support their reasoning. Read pages 6-10 with the heading titled "The Services of Nature" from the article Living Beyond Our Means

Activity 1: Logical Statements Key Messages could be viewed as the authors' conclusions. This is a conclusion that could be reached based on the information in the pages you read. Read the Key Messages on page 3. Identify one bullet point from the Key Messages that directly relates to the information you read in pages 6-10. Find and restate at least one piece of quantitative evidence from the reading that supports the Key Message you chose. Clearly explain in your own words why you believe this evidence supports the Key Message.

Key Message (verbatim)->

Quantitative->

Evidence->

Explanation->

Translate the authors' statement(s) and Key Message identified in the prior question into a formal conditional statement. Identify the antecedent and consequent of the conditional statement.

Antecedent (the "if" part or evidence) ->

Consequent (the "then" part or conclusion) ->

Conditional Statement (in words) ->

Paraphrase another conditional or biconditional statement that is implied by the authors. Use logical symbols to express the statement.

Conditional/Biconditional Statement ->

Conditional/Biconditional using Logical Symbols ->

Choose one of the graphs in the passage that addresses the key message you selected above. Summarize the message of the graph and write a conditional (or biconditional) statement based on your summary. State the antecedent and consequent.

Antecedent (the "if" part, i.e. the evidence presented in the graph) ----->

Consequent (the "then" part or conclusion) ----->

Conditional Statement (in words) ----->

Activity 2: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Explain, in your own words, the meaning of inductive and deductive reasoning. Clearly explain the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning. Include examples of each type of reasoning.

Explanation Example ->

Inductive ->

Deductive ->

On page 10 of the article in the Conversion and Degradation section, the author states the following as factual evidence:

"Since about 1980 approximately 35% of mangroves have been lost, while 20% of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed and a further 20% badly degraded or destroyed."

One possible conclusion, given this fact could be stated as follows: "Given this trend, the threat of damage from coastal storms and tidal waves will increase in the future."

Consider the evidence and conclusion presented above. Which type of reasoning, inductive or deductive, is being used to determine the conclusion? Explain. Inductive or Deductive Explanation ---->

Create your own example of inductive or deductive reasoning based on another bullet point from the Facts and Figures of Ecosystem Change on page 10. Write a well- reasoned conclusion that is based on the information from your bullet point. Explain the type of reasoning, inductive or deductive, that you used. Bullet Point (Verbatim) Conclusion, Type of Reasoning and Explanation

Instructions for Submission: Enter your responses after the bullet point or in the table provided. You may change the color of the font of your responses. Show all work for each section, where applicable. Writing Mechanics: Correct spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Cite all resources, where applicable. (For a guide to citing resources in APA, click on the following document: APA Formatting Guide.)

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). Living beyond our means: Natural assets and human well-being. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Retrieved from