Critical Reasoning Flashcards
Premise
Is part of the core of the argument; present in every argument.
Supports the author’s conclusion.
Can be a fact of an opinion; can be a description, historical information, data, or a comparison of things.
Is often signaled by words or phrases such as “because of, since, due to, or as a result of.”
Conclusion
Is part of the core of an argument; present in most arguments.
Represents the author’s main opinion of claim; can be in the form of a prediction, a judgement of quality or merit, a statement of causality, or the outcome of a plan.
Is supported by at least one premise.
Is often signaled by words such as “therefore, thus, so, or consequently.”
Background
Is not part of the core; not always present.
Provides context to help understand the core; similar to premises but less important to the argument itself.
Is almost always fact-based; can be in almost any form: historical information, data, descriptions of plans or ideas, definitions of words or concepts, and so on.
Counterpoint or Counterpremise
Is not part of the core; only present occasionally.
Opposes or goes against the author’s conclusion in some way.
Introduces multiple opportunities for traps: believing that the conclusion is the opposite of what it is, mistakenly thinking that a counterpoint is a premise, and so on.
Is often signaled by a transition word such as “although, though, however yet, and but and some critics.”
Cause and Effect Signal Words
One fact or claim leads to another.
Example: Therefore, thus, so, consequently, for his reason, it follows that, as a result
Concession Signal Words
These words concede or acknowledge an opposing point but the author doesn’t necessarily change his or her mind.
Example: Even though, though, although, whereas, despite, while it is true that
Contrast Signal Words
These words cross the line: the author is changing direction or disputing an earlier point.
Example: However, but, yet, nevertheless, even so
Premise Signal Words
This point is used to support a claim or conclusion elsewhere in the argument.
Example: Because, since, for, after all
Therefore Test
When used when there is an intermediate conclusion and final conclusion in order to find the true final conclusion.
Call the two claims A and B. Plug the two claims into two sentences using Because and Therefore and ask yourself which one is true.
Example: Because he’s more likely to get caught, therefore he will probably end up in jail. Because he will probably end up in jail, therefore he’s more likely to get caught.
Four Step Approach
Step 1: Identify the question
Step 2: Deconstruct the argument
Step 3: State the goal
Step 4: Work from wrong to right
Structure-Based Family
Determine something based upon the building blocks of the argument.
Types: Describe the role (identify the tiles or building blocks of the boldface portions of the argument), Describe the argument (Describe how a certain piece of information affects the argument)
Assumption-Based Family
Depend upon an understanding of the assumptions made by the author to reach a certain conclusion.
Types: Find the assumption (Identify an unstated assumption), Strengthen the argument (Identify a new piece of information that strengthens the author’s argument), Weaken the argument (Identify a new piece of information that weaken the author’s argument), Evaluate the argument (Identify a new piece of information that would help to determine the soundness of the argument), Find the flaw (Identify something illogical in the argument)
Evidence-Based Family
These arguments all lack conclusions and assumptions; they consist entirely of premises. Find something that must be true or something that eliminates a discrepancy in order to answer the question.
Types: Inference (Identify something that must be true based on the given information), Explain a discrepancy (Identify a new piece of information that eliminates some apparent paradox in the argument)
