( ( Deductive reasoning ) ( ( ( reaches ( a conclusion ) ) ( by ( ( ( ( assuming ( a ( general principle ) ) ) and ) then ) ( ( applying ( that principle ) ) ( to ( specific instances ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (JJ Deductive) (NN reasoning)) (VP (VBZ reaches) (NP (DT a) (NN conclusion)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VP (VBG assuming) (NP (DT a) (JJ general) (NN principle))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB then)) (VP (VBG applying) (NP (DT that) (NN principle)) (PP (TO to) (NP (JJ specific) (NNS instances)))))))) (. .)))
Deductive reasoning reaches a conclusion by assuming a general principle and then applying that principle to specific instances.
(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))))) (. .)))