Evaluate the Argument

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• Present a plan, a proposal, or an argument and then ask us to find an answer that highlights info that helps us to evaluate whether the plan or proposal will work or whether the conclusion of the argument is valid.
• Most are simply Assumption questions presented in a different format. Be on the lookout for missing info that must be true in order for the logic of the argument to properly work (i.e., look for assumptions).
• Answer choices can be in the form of questions or statements.
• The correct answer is a question or statement that highlights info that we could use to weaken or strengthen the argument.

Question 2

4 Types of Answer Choices

Answer 2

1. Questions that can be answered “Yes” or “No”
2. Questions that can be answered in two ways that are not “Yes” or “No”
3. Questions of other types
4. Statements, rather than questions

Question 3

1) Yes/No Test

Answer 3

• In many cases, the answer choices in Evaluate the Argument questions pose questions that can be answered in two ways, either “Yes’ or ”No.” In such a case, the correct answer to an Evaluate the Argument Question must be a question such that, if it is answered “Yes,” the argument is affected in one way (either strengthened or weakened), and, if it is answered “No,” the argument is affected in the reverse way.
  
  • If yes strengthens → no weakens
  • If no strengthens → yes weakens
• Correct answer: The correct answer is one that, if answered “Yes,” supports one position on the efficacy of the argument, and, if answered “No,” supports the opposite position on the efficacy of the argument.
• Wrong answer: Whether the response to the question posed by the answer is “Yes” or “No,” the answer has no effect on the argument. In other words, both “Yes” or “No” make us say “So what?”

Question 4

2) Extreme Answers

Answer 4

In many cases, by using extreme answers to questions posed by Evaluate the Argument answer choices, one can determine which answer is correct.

Examples:

• What proportion? 10% / 90%
• How common? Very common / very rare
• How likely? Very likely / definitely won’t happen
• What ratio? 100:1 / 1:100
• How different? Completely different / exactly the same
• How much stronger? Much stronger / not at all stronger
• How close? Next door / 1000 miles away
• To what extent? To a great extent / very little

Question 5

3) Questions of Other Types

Answer 5

When an Evaluate the Argument answer choice is in the form of an open-ended question, carefully consider how answers to that question could affect the support for the argument, and be careful not to make up convoluted or unsupported stories that make that choice seem correct even though it isn’t really.

Question 6

Answer Choices that are Statements

Answer 6

To find the answer to an Evaluate the Argument question that has answers choices that are statements, identify the conclusion of the argument, and then, find a choice that either weakens or strengthens the support for the conclusion.

Question 7

Evaluate Incorrect Answer:

1) Pertinent Info but doesn’t Affect Strength of Argument

Answer 7

In answering Evaluate the Argument questions, beware of incorrect choices that highlight info that is pertinent to the topics that arguments are about but doesn’t affect the support for the arguments.

Question 8

Evaluate Incorrect Answer:

2) Irrelevant Comparison

Answer 8

Comparisons can often be used to strengthen or weaken support for conclusions and, thus, can be helpful for evaluating arguments. Of course, only a relevant comparison will be useful in this way, and the incorrect answer choices to Evaluate questions often highlight comparisons that indicate nothing that is useful for evaluating the arguments.

Question 9

Evaluate Incorrect Answer:

3) Missing the Point

Answer 9

In answering an Evaluate the Argument question, beware of incorrect choices that bring up info that misses the point of the argument and affects the wrong conclusion.