Which of the following is an example of a form of argument consisting of a major premise, minor premise, and conclusion?

A syllogism is a form of argument that clearly illustrates the structure of reasoning by presenting a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. This logical framework allows the argument to establish a connection between the premises leading to a logical conclusion.

For example, a classic syllogism might be: "All humans are mortal" (major premise), "Socrates is a human" (minor premise), thus "Socrates is mortal" (conclusion). This clear structure demonstrates how two premises can logically lead to a definitive conclusion, making it a fundamental concept in logical reasoning and critical thinking.

In contrast, modes refer to different methods or forms, rhetoric pertains to the art of persuasive speaking or writing, and fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of an argument. None of these alternatives provide the structured basis of argumentation that a syllogism does.