LR Flashcards
MBT
“Fact Test”
- any answer that has any uncertainty (less then 100% true/false) is wrong!
Premise Indicators…
- because
- since
- for
- for the reason that
- in that
- given that
- as indicated by
- due to
- furthermore
Conclusion Indicators…
- thus
- therefore
- hence
- consequently
- as a result
- so
- accordingly
- it follows that
- it must be that
Weaken
Ask yourself, “Which one of these answers, makes the conclusion less likely to be true?”
- Read with the idea that there is something “missing” in the argument/conclusion (prephrase)
Justify
Correct Answer;
- is sufficient to prove the conclusion when added to the premise
- logically proves the conclusion of the argument
- adds a piece of information to the premises that makes the reasoning structure valid
- if there is a “new” element in the conclusion, that same element will be found in the correct answer
Strengthen
Correct Answer;
- to be general: eliminate the weakness!
- any answer that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or 100%
- eliminate any alternate cause for the stated effect
- show that when the cause occurs, the effect occurs (and the contrapositive)
Assumption
Correct Answers;
- the assumption has to be true and NECESSARY for the conclusion to be true (including contrapositives)
- use the “assumption negation technique”
- logically negate the answer choice (do once you have narrowed it down some)
- then the negated answer choice which attacks the argument is the correct answer
Method of Reasoning
Incorrect Answers;
- they often begin by describing something that occurred in the stimulus but end by describing something that did not occur
Flaw
Correct Answer;
- every correct answer has 2 req’s
- answer must accurately describe what the author did/said
- answer must actually describe an error of reasoning like a flaw (but a failure to do something is not a flaw)
Parallel
Correct Answer;
- employ the “Parallel Reasoning Elemental Attack” (steps 1-3) *don’t use all 3, just skip to whatever is easiest/quickest
- parallel reasoning – is the argument in the stimulus uses an analogy, the correct answer choice will also likely use an analogy
- parallel the conclusion – an absolute conclusion in the stimulus will be matched by an absolute conclusion in the correct answer choice
- parallel the premise – like above
Sufficient/Necessary
When you take the contrapositive, you also change the “and” to “or” and vice versa
Sufficient Conditions…
if when whenever every all any people who in order to
Necessary Conditions…
then only only if must required *unless, *except, *until, *without (*these words mean that they can sometimes come at the beginning of the sentence, but still symbolizes a necessary condition & the other term is negated)
MBT
if conditional reasoning (suff/nec), immediately look for the “repeat” or “contrapositive” answer!!!
Causal Indicators
- caused by
- because of
- responsible for
- reason for
- leads to
- promoted by
- determined by
- produced by
- is an effect of
- was a factor in
Attacking Cause & Effect
- find an alternate cause
- show that when the cause occurs, effect does not (and vice versa)
- show that the relationship is reversed
Assumption/Justify/Strengthen
- many of these types require you to find the missing link
- if you see a weakness in the argument, look for an answer that eliminates that weakness
Justify the Conclusion
What is sufficient to make the conclusion true?
Don’t assume that…
just because there is a cause/effect relationship, does not mean that the cause led to the effect
conditional reasoning…
and it is a flaw q, then immediately look for the answer that contains “sufficient/assured” and/or “necessary/required”
Parallel reasoning…
an absolute conclusion has to be matched in the answer
Prephrase advice…
don’t gues what the author will say, but what the author will do
Flaw in reasoning q’s…
- what the author did/say
2. accurately describes an error of reasoning
Point at Issue…
Common Incorrects; - ethical vs factual - dual agree/disagree - one speakers view is unknown Correct Answer must: - have one say, "I agree, the statement is correct" and other say, "No, the statement is not correct"
