Arguments

Question 1

Weaken

Answer 1

Identify the premises, assumption, and conclusion
Read critically, looking for instances in which the author made large leaps in logic
When you go the answer choices look for an answer choice that has the most negative impact on that leap in logic

Question 2

Strengthen

Answer 2

Identify the conclusion, assumption, and premises
Read critically looking for where the author made a large leap in logic
When you go to the answer choices look for a choice that has the most positive impact on that gap
Assume all choices are hypothetically true

Question 3

Resolve/explain

Answer 3

Identify the apparent discrepancy or paradox
Go to the answer choices and look for a piece of information that when added to the argument allows both facts from the argument to be true
Assume all choices to be hypothetically true

Question 4

Main point

Answer 4

Identify the conclusion and premises
Use the why test and match your conclusion against the five answer choices
Be careful not to fall for the opposite
When down to two choices look for extreme wording and relevance to eliminate one choice

Question 5

Necessary assumption

Answer 5

Identify the conclusion, premises, and assumptions
If you are having trouble finding the assumption look for a gap between two different ideas in the argument
The assumption will always at least mildly strengthen the authors conclusion and is necessary for the conclusion to follow from the information provided
When down to two choices negate each statement to see if the argument falls apart, if it does that’s your answer

Question 6

Flaw

Answer 6

Identify the conclusion, premises, and assumptions
State in your own words what the problem with the argument is
With each answer try to match the actions described in the answer choice with those of the argument itself. Look for the choice taht has the same problem you found
Eliminate the answers that don’t match, look for the answers that address the assumption

Question 7

Principle match

Answer 7

Make sure you know in which direction the argument flows. Are you being asked to find a principle that conforms to a situation or a situation that conforms to a principle
Once you’re sure, look for an answer that most closely matches the general principle underlying the argument

Question 8

Inference

Answer 8

Read carefully paying close attention to qualifying language and then go to the answer choices
Once there cross off any answer choices that are not directly supported by evidence in the passage
Look for relevance and extreme language to eliminate answer choices
Use the contrapositive if there are any “if…then” statements contained in the passage and in the answer choices

Question 9

Reasoning

Answer 9

Read the arguments carefully and then describe what is happening in your own words, focusing on the authors conclusion and premises
Take this description and rigorously apply it to all the answer choices
Once your at the answer choices use the technique of comparing the actions described in the answer choices against those that actually occur in the argument
Cross off anything that didn’t appear in the argument

Question 10

Parallel the reasoning/flaw

Answer 10

Will contain either flawed or valid reasoning
Try to diagram the argument and then diagram each of the answer choices comparing each on to the diagram you came up with for the argument itself
If the argument is flawed, be careful not to choose an answer that fixes it
Save for last

Question 11

Sufficient assumption

Answer 11

Identify the conclusions, premises, and assumption
Look for language in the conclusion that is not accounted for in the premises
Paraphrase an answer that would strongly connect the premises to the conclusion and shore up the language gap
Eliminate answer choices that bring in new information