Assumption Flashcards
T/F ?
Assumptions are necessary conditions
for the conclusion to be valid
True
Conclusion (Valid) –> Assumption True
assumptions are described as what must be true in order for the conclusion to be true
What is the major difference in the question stem or Assumption vs Justify the conclusion?
Assumption will always use necessary condition indicators - required, must, necessary. It will never contain a sufficient word -e.g if
While,
Justify the assumption (though you wil see words like assume, presuppose) contains sufficient condition markers - if.
is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?
“Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument above”
Assumption
is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?
“The position taken above presupposes which one of the following?”
Assumption
Assumption or Justify?
The conclusion in the passage above relies on which one of the following assumptions?
Assumption
is this an Assumption or Justify the conclusion question stem?
“The conclusion cited does not follow unless”
ASSUMPTION
Negate the conditional statement
“To be rich, you must be smart”
To be rich, you do not necessarily have to be smart
To negate a conditional statement you must show that the necessary condition is not in fact necessary.
Quirks of Assumption Question Answer Choices
- Watch for answers strarting with the phrase “at least one” or “at least
some.” - Avoid answers that claim an idea was the most important consideration for the author.
- Watch for the use of “not” or negatives in assumption answer choices.
- If conditional statements are linked together in the argument, the correct
answer choice for an Assumption question will typically supply a missing link in the chain - If you see a conditional conclusion (where no conditional chains are present) and then are asked an Assumption question, immediately look for an answer that confirms that the necessary condition is truly necessary or that eliminates possible alternatives to the necessary condition (a defender)
5 common types of correct assumption answer choices
-
Argument: Proposes a plan
Assumption: The plan will work/desired outcome will occur and there is no factor that will make the plan not to work -
Argument: X causes Y
Assumption: There is no alternative explanation for the observed event that can render the current claim invalid -
Argument: A plan will not work/outcome will not occur
Assumption: There is no alternative factor that can make the plan work/outcome occur -
Argument: Because an event happened in the past, it will occur in the future
Assumption: a change will not occur overtime that will render the conclusion invalid
5.Argument: X is likely true therefore X is true (without evidence)
Assumption: Likely true = actually true
T/F?
An assumption answer choice that weakens the argument is correct
False
Any answer choice that weakens the conclusion act as a malicious variable and can never be correct.
An assumption in its un-negated state should actually strengthen the argument. Its when negated that it then hurts the argument shich signifies that it must be true for the argument to be valid.
T/F?
An assumption answer choice that confirms a premise can be correct
False
Premise is already fact. We do not need an extra bridge to strengthen a fact.
The Supporter/Defender Assumption Model™️
On the LSAT, assumptions play one of two roles—the Supporter or the Defender.
- The Supporter role is the traditional linking role, where an assumption connects the pieces of the argument.
Because Supporters often connect “new” or “rogue” pieces of information in the argument, the Supporter role generally appears similar to the Justify the conclusion answers
2.The Defender role is entirely different, and Defender assumptions protect the
argument by eliminating ideas that could weaken the argument.
when you see gap/new element , think –> supported
When gap/new element not obvious , think –> defender
