Critical Reasoning

Question 1

strategy

4 step approach to CR questions

Answer 1

1. Identify the question
2. Deconstruct the argument
3. State the goal
4. Work from wrong to right

Question 2

strategy

Name two types of structure based questions

Answer 2

1) Describe the role: Identify the roles of portions of the argument
2) Describe the argument: Describe the structure of the argument

Question 3

strategy

Name the five types of assumption questions

Answer 3

1) Assumption: Identify an unstated assumption
2) Evaluate: Identify a piece of information that would help to determine the soundness of the conclusion
3) Flaw: Identify something illogical in the argument
4) Strengthen: Strengthen the author’s conclusion
5) Weaken: Attack the author’s conclusion

Question 4

strategy

Name the two types of evidence based questions

Answer 4

1) Inference: Identify something that must be true based upon the given information
2) Explain a discrepancy: Idenitfy something that eliminates some discrepancy or paradox given in the argument

Question 5

strategy

What is the core of an argument?

Answer 5

What the author is trying to tell me or prove to me. Consists of the premise(s) and conclusion.

Note: sometimes there will not be a conclusion but there will always be at least one premise therefore there will always be at least a partial core

Question 6

strategy

What are the building blocks of an argument

Answer 6

Premise:

a) supports author’s conclusion
b) can be a fact or opinion
c) often signaled by “because of”, “since”, “due to”, and “as a result of”

Conclusion:

a) author’s main opinion or claim
b) supported by at least one premise
c) often signaled by words such as “therefore” “thus” “so” and “consequently” NOTE: in harder arguements these words might be used in other places to create confusion

Background:

a) Provides context
b) almost always fact-based

Counterpoint:

a) opposes or goes agains author’s conclusion
b) introduces multiple opportunities for traps
c) often signaled by transition words such as “however” “yet” “but”

Intermediate Conclusions:

a) a conclusion that supports a further conclusion
b) not all arguments will have this
c) use the “therefore” test to distinguish between the intermediate conclusion and the final conclusion: A therefore B

ref. Ch 1 Critical Reasoning Study Guide