Logical Reasoning Question Types Flashcards
(16 cards)
Identify the conclusion
the one statement that is supported by the other statements and that itself doesn’t support other statements. Checklist: find the point: determine which statement seems like the main prediction, value, judgement, interpretation or theory. Double check the claim. Clarify pronouns: if the main conclusion is ambiguous it’s a good idea to rephrase the main conclusion using the passage.
Identify an entailment (implication)
if each statement in the passage is truth that’s set in stone, can you identify the only choice that must also be true? Checklist: look for relationships: are there ways that statements relate to each other? Note strong language: are there strong statements to pay attention to ex) all, must, any, ever, never, everyone. Note weak language: are there weaker statements? ex) some, many, may, sometimes, usually, often. test each choice by asking if that statement is true based on the passage. Common wrong choice types: too strong/extreme: beyond the truth of the passage, Probably/Might be: could be true but not 100%. Example Questions: Which of the following can be inferred from the statements above? If the essayists statements are true, which must also be true?
Infer what is most strongly supported
the choice that is most supported by the passage. Checklist: look for relationships. Note strong language. Note weak language. Ask is it supported. Test each choice by asking of that statement can be concluded from the passage. Verify: ensure that you can point to different parts of the passage that support the statement chosen. Common wrong choices: too strong/extreme. Possibly/might be true. Example Question: Which of the following claims which can be justifiably rejected?
Identify or infer an issue in dispute
Usually asks to determine a topic which 2 speakers disagree. The answer will be a statement about which we know both speakers opinions. Checklist: Understand each speakers argument in simple terms. Find conclusion & support. Test each choice. Common wrong choice types: note enough info: statement which we can’t infer one or both speakers opinion. Areas of agreement: speakers agree instead of disagree. Example Question: X and Y disagree over whether, X and Y disagree over which of the following?
Identify the technique
Describe the reasoning of an argument; the way it uses support to justify a conclusion. Checklist: make a prediction. test the choices. Example Questions: the educators argument proceeds by? which of the following is a technique of reasoning used in the argument?
Identify the role
describe the individual role that a statement is playing in a larger argument. Checklist: mark the statement in question before reading the passage. Identify the main conclusion and support. match your prediction to a choice. Example Questions: the claim that.. plays which of the following roles in an argument?
Identify the principle
Identify the principle that underlies the argument. A principle for a situation based passage would resemble. “it’s better to be safe than sorry”. Checklist: Restate the argument or situation in your own words. Compare each choice against the stimulus and consider the impact. Example Questions: Which of the allowing principles if valid most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument above?
Match the structure
Choose an argument that is structurally the same as the argument in the passage. Will have the same kind of conclusion and the same kind of evidence. Checklist: Identify the conclusion and support of original argument. Consider symbolizing the passage structure: it could be X Y or Z. Eliminate as many choices as possible. Common wrong choice: will have different kind of conclusion or different kind of support. Example Questions: which of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?
Match principles
Fins the choice that exhibits the same principle as the passage. Checklist: identify the principle that governs the passage. Discard answers that differ from the principle. Example Questions: Which of the following conforms most closely to the principle illustrated above?
identity a flaw
Find a flaw in the argument’s reasoning. Checklist: identify conclusions and support. Make a prediction. identify choice that matches prediction. common wrong choices: describes something that is true, not a flaw. Example Questions: which describes a flaw in the arguments reasoning?
Match Flaws
find a choice with an argument that exhibits the same flaws as the passages argument. Checklist: Identify the flaw in the passage argument. Symbolize: X Y Z. Eliminate choices. Example questions: Which of the following arguments is most similar in its flawed reasoning to the argument above?
Necessary Assumptions
identity the claim that must be true for the argument to work. Checklist: identify conclusion and support. Find a gap: is there a gap between the support and conclusion. If so, it needs to be connected by assumptions. Find if there is something the arguer is missing. Eliminate. Common wrong choices: Too strong, Irrelevant, Detrimental. Example Questions: The argument relies on assuming which of the following?
Sufficient Assumptions
Find an assumption that if added to the argument would make it logically valid. Checklist: identify the conclusion and support. Identify gaps. Match a choice to prediction. Eliminate. Common wrong choices: not enough: doesn’t guarantee the conclusion. Necessary assumption: assumptions are necessary but not significant. Not relevant. Backwards. Examples Questions: the conclusion drawn above follows logically off which of the following is assumed?
Strengthen and Weaken
Identify a strengthen or weakener that would make the conclusion more or less likely to be true. Checklist: identify conclusion and support. Identify gaps. Find common patterns. Test each choice. Example Questions: Strengthen: Which of the following if true adds the most support for the conclusion of the argument? Weaken: Which of the following if true most undermines the claim made above?
Identify what is most/ least helpful to know
What information would be most or least likely in evaluating the argument. checklist: Identify conclusion and support. Look for gaps. Look for common patterns. Test choices by turning them into questions. Would a yes answer strengthen the argument and a no answer weaken an argument? If so, it’s correct. Example Questions: Which of the following would be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument? the answer to which of the following questions would most help in evaluating the argument above?
