1. Each premise, sub-conclusion, and conclusion must be numbered.
2. Every premise, sub-conclusion, and conclusion must be expressed in a complete sentence.
3. Underline the last premise before each sub-conclusion.
4. Underline any premise or sub-conclusion immediately preceding the main conclusion.
5. Each sub-conclusion and conclusion must be preceded by three dots ("therefore").
6. The last line must encapsulate the main conclusion of the argument.
That's it! If you get all these correct, your argument is in standard form.
Stylistic Features of Good Standard Form Arguments
1. Our concept of God is the most perfect entity which could possibly be, and our concept does exist.
2. What is pretty obvious is that a non-existent thing is less perfect than an existing thing.
3. Our concept of God necessarily includes the property of existence .
4. God really does exist.