Can You Prove That?

Directions: After reading Chapter 2, do the following activities, which focus on recognizing whether the conditions for statements and opinions are sufficient.

Learning About Thinking
A condition is a thing on which something else depends. For example, sunlight is a condition for growing plants. A sufficient condition is a condition that, by itself, is enough to make something happen or to make a statement true. For example, in many classes, getting caught cheating on a test is a sufficient condition for failing the test.

To see whether or not a condition is a sufficient condition, use this formula: If the "If A, then B" statement is true, then the condition is sufficient. For example, let the statement "you buy a ticket to the basketball game" be A, and let the statement, "you may watch the game in person" be B." Your statement will be: If you buy a ticket to the basketball game, then you may watch the game in person.

Buying a ticket to the game is a sufficient condition for watching it in person. Now consider a statement in which the condition is not sufficient. Let A be "if you study hard for a test," and let B be "you will get a good grade." Your statement will be: If you study hard for a test, you will get a good grade.

Usually studying hard will produce a good test grade. Still, other factors enter into what type of grade you will receive. Your aptitude for the subject, your knowledge of what is to be covered by the test, and even your mood while taking the test can affect your grade. You could say that just studying hard is not always sufficient for producing a good grade. The condition is not sufficient for the validity of the statement that follows.


Thinking About the Novel
Sometimes statements seem to be true until you challenge the conditions upon which they are based. Statements cannot be correct if the basic conditions are not sufficient.
A. Consider the following statements from the novel. After each statement, condition A is suggest. Use the formula "If A, then B" to decide if the condition is sufficient for a valid statement. Give reasons for your decisions.

1. "The work of teaching and organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally recognized as being the cleverest of the animals."
Let A be: The pigs are the cleverest of the animals.
Statement:

Is the condition sufficient to make the statement correct? Why or why not?

2. "Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. Jones, whom they referred to as 'Master,' or made elementary remarks such as 'Mr. Jones feeds us. If he were gone, we should starve to death.'"
Let A be "Mr. Jones feeds the animals."
Statement:

Is the condition sufficient to make the statement correct? Why or why not?


3. Mollie "had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. Jones's dressing table, and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manner. The others reproached her sharply, and they went outside."
Let A be: Animals should not behave in any way like humans. Statement:

Is the condition sufficient to make the statement correct? Why or why not?


Can You Prove That?
B. The Seven Dommandments indicate that animals should have nothing to do with humans. Think od a sufficient condition that would make such a statement valid. Present your condition in the If A, then B formula by filling in the blank below.

If _______________________________ then animals should have nothing to do with humans.


Writing About the Novel.
Think of a statement about the relationship between animals and humans that is correct based on what you have read so far in Animal Farm. Form an If A, then B statement about the relationship and argue for its truth in a paragraph. Be sure to use examples from the novel to back up your argument.

"4 legs good, 2 legs bad."

It's true, I mean look at us humans with 2 legs. We're destroying the economy, our earth, our. The pollution, increase of earth's temperature, greenhouse affect, global warming. Animals, eat sleep, and work for us.

Example from the book, animals work hard and give everything to Jones. Hens give eggs. The horses fouls are sold. The cows always give away the milk. They get nothing.

1. A. The work of teaching and organizing fell naturally upon the pigs.
B. The pigs are the cleverest of the animals.
2. A. The duty of Mr. Jones is to feeds the animals.
B. Mr. Jones feeds the animals
3. A. Humans act foolish.
B. Animals shouldn't act like humans.
4. If humans act foolish then animals shouldn't be like humans.[u]

1A. From what I’ve read in Animal Farm so far I do not believe that the pigs are the cleverest of the animals. The pigs might have the most leadership out of all the animals. However, they are not the smartest animals meaning that they don’t know how to handle and carry out all the activities on the farm. If any animal was to be called the smartest animal on the farm it has to be Boxer because he knows how to correctly carry out all the procedures that go on at the farm.

2A. This statement is very literal. If look at it from the animals perspective they were basically feeding themselves. The animals are doing all the work on the farm and growing all of the crops. Without the animals no one in the premises will be fed.

3A. Animals should be treated like humans but not necessarily act like humans. Animals do a lot of work in some cases Animals should be put on a pedestal because without them we would not have half of the items we have today.

i think thats not true, "4 legs are better, than 2". Well if you ask me, even though we make mistakes and destroy, however we are the foundation of earth. without humans what would be earth like? We might be pollution the earth, but we have care for animals. How would dogs take care of themselves. You cant give someone power, and expect them not to abuse it.

1A. I believe that the pigs are the cleverest animals. Pigs are known to be as smart as dogs. They came up with most of the group’s ideas and are the masterminds behind the entire revolt.

2A. I don’t necessarily think if Mr. Jones were to die that the animals would starve to death. It would become a difficult task to get food and become more challenging. Also, while he was alive he didn’t feed them a lot either.

3A. I do agree with this statement, during the revolt the animals must have no human contact. It’ll get in the minds if some of the animals and make them not want to revolt.

B. If _______________________________