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LSAT > Argument Types > Flashcards

Argument Types Flashcards

1
Q

Author improperly equates a percentage with a definite quantity, or when an author uses quantity information to make a judgment about the percentage represented by that quantity

A

Numbers and Percentages Errors

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2
Q

Assumes that conditions will remain constant overtime, and that what was the case in the past continues in the present and will be the case in the future

A

Time Shift Errors

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3
Q

Straw Man

A

The author attempts to attack an opponent’s position by ignoring the actual statements made by the opposing speaker and instead distorts and refashions the argument, making it weaker in the process

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4
Q

Authors misuse information to such a degree that they fail to provide any information to support their conclusion or they provide information that is irrelevant to their conclusion

A

General Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion

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5
Q

Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements

A

Internal Contradiction

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6
Q

Assumes that only two courses of action are available when there may be others
-do not confuse a false dilemma with a situation where the author legitimately establishes that only two possibilities exist

A

False Dilemma

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7
Q

Method of Reasoning

A

Ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the way in which the author made his or her argument
Ex.:”Which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used above?

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8
Q

Survey Errors

A
  • The survey uses a biased sample
  • The survey questions are improperly constructed
  • Respondents to the survey give inaccurate responses
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9
Q

Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is too dissimilar to the original situation to be applicable

A

False Analogy

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10
Q

Ask you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the stimulus
Ex.: “If the statements above are true, which one of the following CANNOT be true?”

A

Cannot be True

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11
Q

Internal Contradiction

A

Occurs when an author makes conflicting statements

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12
Q

Error of Conditional Reasoning

A

Author mistakes a necessary condition for a sufficient condition, or mistakes a sufficient condition for a necessary condition

  • Mistaken Negation
  • Mistaken Reversal
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13
Q

Cannot be True

A

Ask you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the stimulus
Ex.: “If the statements above are true, which one of the following CANNOT be true?”

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14
Q

Parallel Reasoning

A

Ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
Ex.:”which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above?”

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15
Q
  • Lack of evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is false
  • Lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is true
  • Some evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is false
  • Some evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is true
A

Errors in the Use of Evidence

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16
Q

Appeal to Emotion

A

Occurs when emotion or emotionally charged language is used in an attempt to persuade the reader

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17
Q

Ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the error of reasoning committed by the author
Ex.:”The reasoning in the astronomer’s argument is flawed because this argument…”

A

Flaw in the Reasoning

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18
Q

Require you to identify a point of contention between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli
Ex.:”Larson and Manuela disagree about whether”

A

Point at Issue

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19
Q

Error of Composition

A

An error of composition occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of part of the group or entity to the group or entity as a whole or to each member of the group

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20
Q

Time Shift Errors

A

Assumes that conditions will remain constant overtime, and that what was the case in the past continues in the present and will be the case in the future

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21
Q

Author mistakes a necessary condition for a sufficient condition, or mistakes a sufficient condition for a necessary condition

  • Mistaken Negation
  • Mistaken Reversal
A

Error of Conditional Reasoning

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22
Q

Point at Issue

A

Require you to identify a point of contention between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli
Ex.:”Larson and Manuela disagree about whether”

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23
Q

Circular Reasoning

A

The premise supports the conclusion, but the conclusion equally supports the premise
- author assumes as true what is supposed to be proved

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24
Q

Ask you to identify an assumption of the authors argument

Ex.:”Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?”

A

Assumption

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25
Q

Takes a small number of instances and treats those instances as if they support a broad, sweeping conclusion

A

Exceptional Case/ Overgeneralization

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26
Q

• Must be true questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by the information in the stimulus

A

Must be True/ Most Supported

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27
Q

Ask you to select the answer choice that provides support for the author’s argument or strengthen’s it in some way
Ex.: “Which one of the following, if true, most strengthen’s the argument?”

A

Strengthen/ Support

28
Q

Uses the opinion of an authority in an attempt to persuade the reader

A

Appeal to Authority

29
Q
  • The survey uses a biased sample
  • The survey questions are improperly constructed
  • Respondents to the survey give inaccurate responses
A

Survey Errors

30
Q

Must be True/ Most Supported

A

• Must be true questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by the information in the stimulus

31
Q

Evaluate the Argument

A

You must decide which answer choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument
Ex.:”The answer to which one of the following questions would contribute most to an evaluation of the argument?”

32
Q

Numbers and Percentages Errors

A

Author improperly equates a percentage with a definite quantity, or when an author uses quantity information to make a judgment about the percentage represented by that quantity

33
Q

Asks you to supply a piece of information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion
Ex.:”Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion above to be properly drawn?”

A

Justify the Conclusion

34
Q

This flawed argument attacks the person (or source) instead of the argument they advance

  • Focusing on the motives of the source
  • Focusing on the actions of the source
A

Source Argument

35
Q

• Contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction
• Find the answer choice that best resolves the situation
Ex.:”Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively resolve the apparent paradox above?”

A

Resolve the Paradox

36
Q

General Lack of Relevant Evidence for the Conclusion

A

Authors misuse information to such a degree that they fail to provide any information to support their conclusion or they provide information that is irrelevant to their conclusion

37
Q

False Dilemma

A

Assumes that only two courses of action are available when there may be others
-do not confuse a false dilemma with a situation where the author legitimately establishes that only two possibilities exist

38
Q

An error of composition occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of part of the group or entity to the group or entity as a whole or to each member of the group

A

Error of Composition

39
Q

An error of division occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of the whole (or each member of the group) to a part of the group

A

Error of Division

40
Q

Ask you to attack or undermine the author’s argument

A

Weaken

41
Q

Source Argument

A

This flawed argument attacks the person (or source) instead of the argument they advance

  • Focusing on the motives of the source
  • Focusing on the actions of the source
42
Q

Ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the way in which the author made his or her argument
Ex.:”Which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used above?

A

Method of Reasoning

43
Q

Mistaken Cause and Effect

A
  • Assuming a causal relationship on the basis of the sequence of events
  • Assuming a causal relationship when only a correlation exists
  • Failure to consider the events may be reversed
  • Failure to consider an alternate cause for the effect, or an alternate cause for both the cause and the effect
44
Q

Assumption

A

Ask you to identify an assumption of the authors argument

Ex.:”Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above?”

45
Q

Exceptional Case/ Overgeneralization

A

Takes a small number of instances and treats those instances as if they support a broad, sweeping conclusion

46
Q

Ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
Ex.:”which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument above?”

A

Parallel Reasoning

47
Q

Appeal to Authority

A

Uses the opinion of an authority in an attempt to persuade the reader

48
Q
  • Asks you to find the primary conclusion made by the author

* Are a variant of must be true questions

A

Main Point

49
Q

Errors in the Use of Evidence

A
  • Lack of evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is false
  • Lack of evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is true
  • Some evidence against a position is taken to prove that position is false
  • Some evidence for a position is taken to prove that position is true
50
Q

Author must use each term in a constant, coherent fashion; using a term in different ways is confusing and undermines the integrity of the argument

A

Uncertain use of a Term or Concept

51
Q
  • Assuming a causal relationship on the basis of the sequence of events
  • Assuming a causal relationship when only a correlation exists
  • Failure to consider the events may be reversed
  • Failure to consider an alternate cause for the effect, or an alternate cause for both the cause and the effect
A

Mistaken Cause and Effect

52
Q

Justify the Conclusion

A

Asks you to supply a piece of information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion
Ex.:”Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion above to be properly drawn?”

53
Q

Resolve the Paradox

A

• Contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction
• Find the answer choice that best resolves the situation
Ex.:”Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively resolve the apparent paradox above?”

54
Q

You must decide which answer choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument
Ex.:”The answer to which one of the following questions would contribute most to an evaluation of the argument?”

A

Evaluate the Argument

55
Q

Main Point

A
  • Asks you to find the primary conclusion made by the author

* Are a variant of must be true questions

56
Q

Weaken

A

Ask you to attack or undermine the author’s argument

57
Q
  • This error states that a position is true because the majority believe it to be true
  • An appeal to popular opinion does not present a logical reason for accepting a position, just an appeal based on numbers
A

Appeal to Popular Opinion/ Appeal to Numbers

58
Q

Appeal to Popular Opinion/ Appeal to Numbers

A
  • This error states that a position is true because the majority believe it to be true
  • An appeal to popular opinion does not present a logical reason for accepting a position, just an appeal based on numbers
59
Q

False Analogy

A

Occurs when the author uses an analogy that is too dissimilar to the original situation to be applicable

60
Q

The author attempts to attack an opponent’s position by ignoring the actual statements made by the opposing speaker and instead distorts and refashions the argument, making it weaker in the process

A

Straw Man

61
Q

Uncertain use of a Term or Concept

A

Author must use each term in a constant, coherent fashion; using a term in different ways is confusing and undermines the integrity of the argument

62
Q

Occurs when emotion or emotionally charged language is used in an attempt to persuade the reader

A

Appeal to Emotion

63
Q

The premise supports the conclusion, but the conclusion equally supports the premise
- author assumes as true what is supposed to be proved

A

Circular Reasoning

64
Q

Error of Division

A

An error of division occurs when the author attributes a characteristic of the whole (or each member of the group) to a part of the group

65
Q

Strengthen/ Support

A

Ask you to select the answer choice that provides support for the author’s argument or strengthen’s it in some way
Ex.: “Which one of the following, if true, most strengthen’s the argument?”

66
Q

Flaw in the Reasoning

A

Ask you to describe, in abstract terms, the error of reasoning committed by the author
Ex.:”The reasoning in the astronomer’s argument is flawed because this argument…”

LSAT (3 decks)

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