Important Tools/Things to Remember Flashcards
Negation test
negating the assumption of an argument invalidates the argument; this test helps to determine whether you truly have identified an essential assumption
-negate the assumption (answer choice) and ask: could the conclusion still be possible? If yes, eliminate; if not, that is the correct answer. Only for Necessary Assumptions, not Sufficient Assumptions
Nots on right
Slots on right
Nots on left
Slots on left
No nots
No slots
Conclusion clue words
-therefore
-thus
-hence
-clearly
-so
-conclude
-it follows that
-as a result
-clearly
-obviously
-nevertheless
-nonetheless
Premise clue words
-because
-since
-for example
-after all
-on the grounds that
-given that
-for
-as shown by
Why test?
used to correctly identify the conclusion and the premises; ask yourself: “why does the author believe this statement is true?”; the other text should answer that question, and if doesn’t make sense, then you probably chose the wrong statement as the conclusion
Purposes of an argument
1) Interpret: these arguments take a simple set of facts and jump to a conclusion that assumes the facts are enough to validate the conclusion
2) Solve: these arguments seek to remedy a problem and assume that the proposed solution will solve the entire problem without creating any new harms (assumes the solution will work, that it is the only solution, and that it will not cause problems)
3) Disagree: these arguments argue that a commonly held belief is or may be wrong, and people should instead believe the author’s point (assumes that the facts are enough to discredit the opposition)
Process of Elimination reasons
- Irrelevance: avoid choices that don’t address the specific question task
- Wrong tone/force: be wary of extreme language
- Doesn’t match: eliminate anything that doesn’t match details in the argument
- Partly right: partly wrong - all wrong! one words can invalidate an answer
- Wrong direction: watch out for answer choices that are opposite of what you intent
- Just plain confusing: leave these alone! don’t eliminate a confusing answer immediately, or choose automatically either
Two-pass method
Use for POE in Reading Comprehension, with the first pass working quickly and the second pass being more specific/attention to detail
Common distractors for POE in RC
-Not supported
-Wrong scope
-Doesn’t answer question
-Contradicts the passage
-Wrong direction
-Strength of language
-Topic/relevance
-Different points of view
Bottom Line
1) Main Point
2) Purpose
3) Tone
Sufficient Assumption when the question stem says…
conclusion properly drawn, conclusion follows logically
Necessary Assumption when the question stem says…
depends, assumption/assumes, relies on, takes for granted, required
For NA questions look for….
Language shifts, potential obstacles, or flaws; the correct answer will bridge the gap , rule out obstacles, and be essential
For SA questions look for….
Language shift; the correct answer will supply the missing link, or seal the deal on the conclusion; no Negation Test
Must be true EXCEPT
Could be false
Could be true EXCEPT
Must be false
Could be false EXCEPT
Must be true
Must be false EXCEPT
Could be true
Deductions
Figure out what cannot happen which tells us what could happen and won’t happen
Logic game questions (in order of approach)
- Grab a Rule
- Specific (“if”)
- General (“which”)
- Complex
Order of preparing a logic game
Game task, inventory, diagram, symbolize/double check, deductions
Types of clues
range, block, antiblock, spider, slash, branching
Inference
a conclusion that you can draw from a single statement or by combining two or more statements
Argument questions will ask you to…
1) Help ( find an answer choice that supports the conclusion), 2) hurt (find an answer choice that weakens the conclusion), 3) match (find an answer choice that matches the conclusion or part of the conclusion), 4) extract (find an answer choice that you know to be true based on the information given in the argument)
Two parts of argument
Premise (facts of the argument) and conclusion (main point that the author is trying to convince)
one or more/atleast one X
X= inventory
Distribution requirement
a clue that restricts the relative qualities of elements
“should or should not” in the argument
Almost any time an author says that someone should or shouldn’t do something, that’s the main point
Strong words (POE)
all, always, every, whenever, none, no, never, only, necessary, requires, needs
Weaker words (POE)
some, many, at least, at most, may, might, could
Transition clue words
however, but, yet (indicate a change of direction or contrast)
Continuation clue words
Furthermore, additionally
Tone/opinion clue words
finally, fortunately, thankfully, sadly
Emphasis clue words
primarily, chiefly, most important, crucial, etc.
Comparison and contrast clue words
similarly, like, analogy, unlike, in contrast, later, and before
Example clue words
for example, because, since, in this
takes for granted, purports presupposed without justification =
assumes
fails to consider, ignores the possibility =
assumes not
Strong language is better for arguments that:
strengthen, weaken, sufficient assumption, principle strengthen
For concluding sentence questions in RC:
the concluding sentence should conclude/wrap up the ENTIRE passage, not just that paragraph
Question types that almost always have a conclusion & premise:
-Assumption (NA and SA)
-Flaw
-Strengthen
-Weaken
-Match the flaw
-Match the structure
-Identify the role
-Identify the technique
-Identify the conclusion
It is helpful to predict for which type of questions?
Flaw, Inference, and reasoning (and sometimes you will also have to translate the answer choices because of this)
Structure for RC
Easier games…
-Only grouping or only ordering
-1 dimensional setups
-Lots of rules
-1:1 correspondance between elements and slots
-Single category of elements
-Concrete clues
Harder games…
-2 dimensional setups
-Empty slots in diagram
-Repeated elements
-Elements that don’t have to be used
-Few rules
-Multiple categories of elements
-Flexible clues
