( ( Deductive reasoning ) ( ( entails ( ( ( starting ( with ( ( a ( general principle ) ) ( -LRB- ( ( such ( as ( ( ( an ( accepted theory ) ) or ) ( scientific law ) ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) ) ) and ) ( ( applying it ) ( to ( specific situations ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Deductive) (NN reasoning)) (VP (VBZ entails) (S (VP (VP (VBG starting) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ general) (NN principle)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (PP (JJ such) (IN as) (NP (NP (DT an) (VBN accepted) (NN theory)) (CC or) (NP (JJ scientific) (NN law)))) (-RRB- -RRB-))))) (CC and) (VP (VBG applying) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (TO to) (NP (JJ specific) (NNS situations))))))) (. .)))
Deductive reasoning entails starting with a general principle (such as an accepted theory or scientific law) and applying it to specific situations.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Making) (NP (DT a) (JJ specific) (NN statement)) (PP (VBN based) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT a) (JJ general) (NN principle)))))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN definition)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ deductive) (NN reasoning))))) (. .)))