Lesson 10: Structure based questions

Question 1

Main point
key words

Answer 1

main point
the conclusion
the point of the argument tries to establish

Question 2

main point
step 1:

Answer 2

question stem only asks you to find the conclusion of the argument

Question 3

main point
step 2

Answer 3

ID conclusion
ignore the evidence
predict the correct AC
** say the conclusion that you predict three times and when going through each AC

Question 4

main point
step 3:

Answer 4

the correct AC will restate the conclusion
wrong ACs will restate the evidence

Question 5

Main point (misdirection words)

Answer 5

hence, therefore, so, since & because
33% rule: when in a main point question, there is less than a 33% chance that it identifies the main conclusion and a 67% that it actually identifies an intermediate conclusion

95% rule: when you see these words in an assumption based question, there is over a 95% chance that it identifies the main conclusion

Question 6

Method of argument (key words)

Answer 6

method of argument
method of reasoning
argumentative strategy
the argument proceeds by

Question 7

method of argument
step 1:

Answer 7

the question stem will ask you what the argument does

Question 8

method of argument
step 2:

Answer 8

ID conclusion
Id the evidence

DO NOT predict the answer choice

Question 9

method of argument
step 3:

Answer 9

the correct AC will describe the reasoning in the argument
- the AC will often contain vague language that refers to concrete ideas from the argument
- process of elimination
- look for evidence/conclusion separators and common argumentative tactics

Question 10

function (key words)

Answer 10

function
figures in the above reasoning
plays which of the following roles

Question 11

function
step 1:

Answer 11

the question stem identifies a phrase from the argument and asks you about the role it plays

Question 12

function
step 2:

Answer 12

ID conclusion first
identify the object statement (this is in the question stem)
relate the OS to the conclusion
- ask is it the conclusion? or is it evidence?

Question 13

function
step 2:

Answer 13

if the object statement is not the conclusion or the evidence then it could be
- intermediate conclusion
- anti-conclusion
- counter-evidence
- background info

Question 14

function step 3:

Answer 14

eliminate ACs that mis-categorize the object statement
the correct AC will relate the object statement to the conclusion
look out for evidence/conclusion separators in the A
Match the vague language in the ACs to the argument
use process of elimination

Question 15

Parallel reasoning
key words

Answer 15

parallel
reasoning most similar

Question 16

parallel reasoning
step 1:

Answer 16

question stem will tell you that the correct AC will utilize the same reasoning or logic as the main argument

** find a distinctive element in the main argument and go eliminate ACs based on that element (POE)

Question 17

parallel reasoning
step 2:

Answer 17

ID conclusion
identify distinctive elements
go to the answer choices and look at the conclusion only to find similar elements

use POE and symbolization

Question 18

parallel reasoning side note

Answer 18

• order does not matter, but logic does
• the TMs will create perfect arguments here
• don’t fall into the same subject trap