Clear Thinking, Clear Writing
Attorney Regina Nassen discusses how lawyers written arguments can be improved.
Practice Pointers
Attorney Regina Nassen discusses how lawyers written arguments can be improved.
In order to be valid, a contract for the sale of real estate must be in writing. This contract is for the sale of real estate, and it’s not in writing, so it’s invalid.
All valid contracts for the sale of real estate are written.
This contract for the sale of real estate is not written.
This contract is not valid.
Major: valid contracts for the sale of real estate [A]
Middle: written contracts [B]
Minor: this contract [C]
All A [distributed] are B [undistributed]. [Proposition is a universal affirmative.]
C [distributed] is Not B [distributed]. [Proposition is a universal negative.]
C [distributed] is Not A [distributed]. [Proposition is a universal negative.]
Valid; this argument does not violate any of the rules.
In order to be valid, a contract for the sale of real estate must be in writing. This real estate contract is in writing, so it’s valid.
All valid contracts for the sale of real estate are in writing.
This contract is a written contract for the sale of real estate.
This contract is valid.
Same as above
All A [distributed] are B [undistributed]. [Proposition is a universal affirmative.]
C [distributed] is B [undistributed]. [Proposition is a particular affirmative.]
C [distributed] is A [undistributed]. [Proposition is a particular affirmative.]
Invalid; the middle term, B, is undistributed in both premises, and the argument therefore violates Rule 2.