Some examples of words and phrases that indicate premises: since, on account of that, because, for, as shown by, for the reason that.

Some examples of words and phrases that indicate conclusion indicators: therefore, hence, as a result, accordingly, we may infer, thus.

Example of an argument:

I am developing a cold; on account of that, I am taking this medicine — therefore I will soon feel better.

NOT an argument:

The bottle says it works.

An argument may not necessarily have a conclusion at the end of a sentence:

This cold of mine will be fixed by this medicine, because the chemist has recommended it to me and the label says that it contains ingredients to help colds.

Examples of Argument Forms:

Serial Argument — one single line of reasoning.

NOT

Convergent Argument — two reasons that, independent of each other, support the conclusion. This means that even if we eliminate one reason, the conclusion is still obtainable by the reason that remains.

Hydrogen blimps should not be built. Travel via blimps isn’t necessary when there are other safer means; in addition, there are few well-qualified drivers of blimps who could handle the conditions involved in using them.

NOT

This cold medicine is not unlike watching the movie Poltergeist. Firstly, I think there’s a disconnection between my hands and my arms; also, where is my nose?

When evaluating arguments, we evaluate their premises and the way they’re related to the conclusion. If an argument is cogent (another word used is sound) — then the premises are rationally acceptable and are ordered as such to provide support for the conclusion.

Here’s an example of an argument by Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion:

It is clear that omniscience and omnipotence are mutually incompatible. If God is omniscient, he must already know he is going to intervene to change the course of history using his omnipotence. But that means he can’t change his mind about his intervention, which means he is not omnipotent.

For that example — try identifying the premise, inference/s and conclusion. What are the premise indicators and the conclusion indicator?