LR Strategies by Question Type Flashcards
Main Conclusion (MC)
LABELS A PART OF THE ARGUMENT, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Conclusion vs. Sub-conclusion Test: “What does it support?” (The sub-conclusion will be supported by premises AND support the conclusion; the conclusion will be supported itself but support NOTHING ELSE.)
Strengthen/Support (SS)
HELPS THE ARGUMENT BY PROVIDING NEW INFO.
- (Answers –> Stimulus)
- Outside Info: YES
- Tone: STRONG
Weaken (W)
HURTS THE ARGUMENT BY PROVIDING NEW INFO.
- (Answers –> Stimulus)
- Outside Info: YES
- Tone: WEAK
Necessary Assumption (NA)
MAKES or BREAKS THE ARGUMENT, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Tone: WEAK
- “What, if FALSE, makes the argument immediately LOSE?”
Sufficient Assumption (SA)
TRIGGERS THE ARGUMENT BY FINDING A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE PREMISE AND CONCLUSION.
- (Answers –> Stimulus)
- Outside Info: YES
- Tone: STRONG
- “What, if TRUE, makes the argument immediately WIN?”
Principle (PRIN)
FIND THE PREMISE(S) AND CONCLUSION IN THE ANSWER CHOICES THAT WOULD MAKE A CONDITIONAL STATEMENT GIVEN IN THE STIMULUS VALID.
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Tone: WEAK
- It’s an S.A. question, in reverse
Most Strongly Support (MSS)
USES THE ARGUMENT, AS IS, TO FIND A CONCLUSION IN THE ANSWER CHOICES
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Tone: WEAK
- Treat it like a “weak” MBT
Must Be True (MBT)
– USES THE ARGUMENT, AS IS, TO PROVE SOMETHING TRUE IN THE ANSWER CHOICES
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Tone: WEAK
Resolve/Reconcile/Explain (RRE)
EXPLAINS THE PARADOX IN AN ARGUMENT, POSSIBLY WITH NEW INFO.
- (Answers –> Stimulus)
- Outside Info: YES
- Tone: STRONG
- “There’s no contradiction because __________”
Flaw (F)
HIGHLIGHTS A GAP IN THE ARGUMENT, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Watch out for “illegal reversal” and “illegal negation”
- Draw upon common logical fallacies knowledge
Point at Issue (PI)
HIGHLIGHTS A DIFFERENCE/COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE ARGUMENTS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Don’t mix up “agree” and “disagree”; read carefully.
Role (R)
ASSIGNS A FUNCTION TO PART OF THE ARGUMENT, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- “_______ is a ______…” (PEACS-C: premise, example, analogy, concession, sub-conclusion, or conclusion?)
Method of Reasoning (MR)
DESCRIBES THE ARGUMENT’S PARTS, AS IS
– (Stimulus –> Answers)
– Outside Info: NO
– “What function does __________ play in the argument?”
(PEACS-C: premise, example, analogy, concession, sub-conclusion, or conclusion?)
Parallel Reasoning/Flaw (PRF)
MATCHES THE ARGUMENT WITH ITS TWIN, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
- Turn premise and conclusion into abstract terms that can apply outside the stimulus.
- Answer will use similar terms but does not have to present the premise and conclusion in the some order.
Complete the Argument (CA)
IDENTIFY THE ARGUMENT’S LOGICAL IMPLICATION, AS IS
- (Stimulus –> Answers)
- Outside Info: NO
