CR Note Cards Flashcards
CR Question Analysis Process
- Read Stimulus
- Strong or Weak
- Write Assumption
- Read Question
- Pre-think Answer
- Eliminate Wrong Answers
Assumption
Recognize: Above can’t be true unless which of the following is true?/ “assumption”
Trick: Supporter & Defender / Double Check by negating correct answer will crumble validity of conclusion
Incorrect:
Correct: In Causality the Answer will do 1 of the following: A -> B /A -> /B C -/> B B -/> A
Weaken
Recognize: …if true, weakens, undermines, casts doubt, calls into questions, contradicts, is evidence against…
Trick: If Strong: C -> B / If Weak C ->B
Incorrect:
Correct:
Strengthen
Recognize:…if true, supports, helps, “strengthens”, justifies…
Trick: If Strong: C -/> B / If Weak: Link P to Conclusion
Incorrect:
Correct:
Resolve
Recognize: Resolves, explains, reconciles
Trick: 2 column DS
Incorrect: Resolves only 1
Correct: Resolves both
Evaluate
Recognize: what info best helps evaluate, assess, judge…
Trick: Variance Test (only after eliminating) will strengthen/weaken visa-versa
Incorrect: The variance won’t have opposite affects on conclusion
Correct: The variance will have opposite affects on conclusion
Method
Recognize: argument proceeds, derives its conclusion with what technique
Trick: 100% true. Many answers can be ruled out immediately with one inaccurate word. Use reasoning errors.
Incorrect: Very subtle wording here
1/2 correct
Exaggerated
Correct: Will be 100% TRUE ALWAYS
Bold
Recognize: Bold Statements
Trick: B,P,C,SP, MP
Incorrect: Accurately explain other parts not in bold
Correct: Follow the B,P,C, SP, MP diagram
Flaw
Recognize: what is “flawed” (will NOT say, “if true”, otherwise, its a weaken question)
Trick: Reasoning errors
Incorrect:
Correct:
Numbers and Percentages Common Assumptions Used to Trick Reader
Increase in % (market share) = Increase in value (sales) and the opposite (decrease = decrease)
If stimulus only gives percent, answer can’t contain hard numbers and visa-versa.
Method of Reasoning Errors: Evidence Cause/Effect Conditional Reasoning Appeal Straw Man Source Argument Circular Reasoning Survey Composition/Division False Dilemma False Analogy Time Shift Numbers and Percents
Method of Reasoning Error Notes:
Evidence: lacking evidence to prove true/false
Cause/Effect: Reversal
Conditional Reasoning: Reversing condition & necessary
Appeal: authority, emotion, popularity
Straw Man: So what you said was…
Source Argument: attack on speaker
Circular Reasoning: around and around
Survey: bias group
Composition/Division: stereotyping a group
False Dilemma: Only 1 choice
False Analogy: Doesn’t connect with reasoning
Time Shift: Conditions always stay the same
Numbers and Percents: % up = value up
Parallel Reasoning
Recognize: The reasoning given here is the same as the reason in which of the following arguments. (eliminate after each)
- Identify reasoning
- Match conclusion verbiage
- Match premise verbiage
- Match the validity (false to false and true to true)
- Make an abstract statement and see if it applies
Must Be True
Recognize: Given true in stimulus, what is true below
Trick: Ask “What HAS TO BE TRUE ALWAYS?”
Incorrect: 1% - 99.9% true
Correct: 100% true (answer surprisingly simple)
Main Point
Recognize:
Trick: Usually RC question. If CR then probably conclusion and sub-conclusion in stimulus
Incorrect Answer: Partial Scope and 100% true :)
Correct: Rephrase of the Conclusion
FIB
Look for word at beginning of Blank sentence to recognize question type
