Strengthen the argument
Common ways to strengthen an argument:
- Stating a previously-unstated assumption
- Supporting or elaborating on an existing premise
- Adding a new supporting premise
Weaken the argument
Common ways to weaken an argument:
- Undermining an unstated assumption
- Adding a new premise that hurts the conclusion
“Weaken” does not necessarily mean “destroy”
Beware of answer choices that strengthen the argument
Do not try to disprove a premise
Goal: Weaken the extent to which the conclusion follows the premises
Assumption Questions
Check each answer choice against the conclusion (Is this assumption necessary to draw the conclusion that…?)
Apply Negation Technique:
- Make the assumption not true (it is not the case that…) and see if it destroys the argument.
- Negate each answer choice and insert it into the argument.
- The negated answer choice that destroys the argument is the correct answer
Conclusion/Inference Questions
- Draw a conclusion that must follow
- Look for your conclusion amongst each answer choices
- Aggressively eliminate incorrect answers (Must it be true that…?)
Apply a version of the Negation Technique:
- The negated conclusion that contradicts the premises the most is probably the right answer
Paradox Questions
- Identify the contradictory premises “Aha!”
- Explain the paradox to yourself
- Check the answer choices while reminding yourself of the paradox (Does this explain why…?)
Evaluate the Conclusion Questions
- Identify the summarise the conclusion and premises
- Identify any assumptions
- Check the answer choices by providing an answer to each question and relating it to the conclusion
Flawed Argument Questions
Common Flaws:
- Confusing causation with correlation
- Confusing numbers with rates/%s
- Conclusion mismatch (watch out for new words)
- Extreme conclusion
- Mistaking necessary for sufficient
- Guilty by association
- Unrepresentative sample
Structure Questions
Types of structure questions:
- Method of Reasoning
- Boldface
- Parallel Argument
For each sentence, ask, “What role does this play in the argument?”
