Argument Types and Strategies Flashcards
(22 cards)
Main Point Question Types
What is the author’s main point?
The main conclusion is…
The argument is structured to lead to which of the following conclusions?
Main Point Strategy
Identify CP; Why test; POE
Necessary Assumption Question Types
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
The argument above assumes which of the following?
The writer’s argument depends on assuming which of the following?
Necessary Assumption Strategy
Identify CPA; find a gap between two different ideas; assumption will be necessary for the conclusion to follow; negate each statement
Sufficient Assumption Question Type
Which one of the following, if assumed, would enable the conclusion ot be properly drawn?
The conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?
Sufficient Assumption Strategy
Identify CPA; look for language in conclusion not in premise; paraphrase an answer; eliminate choices that bring in new info
Weaken Question Type
Which one of the following, if true, would undermine the conclusion?
Which of the following statements, if true, would call into question the results?
Weaken Strategy
Identify CPA; read critically; look for answer with most negative impact; assume all choices to be true
Strengthen Question Type
Which one of the following, if true, would mot support the conclusion?
Which of of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument?
Which of one of the following principles justifies the conclusion drawn?
Strengthen Strategy
Identify CPA; read critically; look for an anwer choice that has the most positive impact; assume all answers to be true
Resolve/Explain Question Type
Which one of the following provides the best resolution to the paradox described?
Which one of the following statements would explain the discrepancy?
Resolve/Explain Strategy
Identify apparent discrepancy/paradox; find answer choice that allows both facts to be true; assume all choices to be true
Inference Question Types
Which one of the following statements can be validly inferred from the information?
If the statements above are true, then which of the following must also be true?
Which one of the following conclusions can be validly drawn from the passage above?
Which one of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?
Inference Strategy
Pay attention to qualifying languages; eliminate choices not based in passage; look for relevance and extreme language; Use contrapositive if there are “if…and” statements in the passage and answers
Reasoning Question Types
The argument proceeds by?
X responds to Y by doing what of the following?
The method used in the argument is…
X does which of the following?
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that…
Reasoning Strategy
Describe purpose structure for yourself and C&P; apply description to all choices; compare the action describe in choices against those that actually occur in the arguments; eliminate anything that doesn’t appear in the argument
Flaw Question Type
Which of the following indicates a flaw in the author’s reasoning?
A criticism of the arguments would most likely emphasize that it…
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument…
The argument above relies on which of the questionable techniques?
Flaw Strategy
Break down the argument into parts and identify CPA; state in your own words the flaw; match actions in choices to the argument and look for the choice that has the same problem you found; eliminate the answers that dont match and look for an answer that addresses the assumption
Principle Match Question Type
The reasoning above most closely conforms to which of the following principle?
Which one of the following examples conforms most closely to the principle given in the argument above?
Principle Match Strategy
Know the direction the argument flows; identify if you need to find a principle that conforms to a situation or a situation that conforms to a principle; Look for an answer that most closely matches the general principle in the argument
Parallel the Reasoning Question Type
Which one of the following is most similar in reasoning to the argument above?
The pattern of reasoning exhibited by the argument is most similar to which of the following
Parallel the Reasoning Strategy
identify if the question is looking for flawed or valid reasoning; diagram argument; save these questions for last
