Method Of Reasoning & Boldface

Question 1

HOW TO APPROACH EVERY CR PASSAGE

Answer 1

For each sentence;

1. Read words carefully & take note of modifiers, indicators, language.
2. Summarize the main gist
   “What is the simple story here?”
3. Determine scope. Ask:
   “What are they saying vs not saying?”
4. Opinion vs fact
   “Is this an Opinion or fact?”
5. Determine the purpose. Ask:
   “Why is the author telling me this?” (eg. to illustrate an example, to provide background context)
6. Make the inferencial connection with previous sentences: Ask:
   “How does this info connect to the previous sentence?” “What inference can I draw from combining the previous sentences with this?”
7. Determine the logical flow; Ask:
   “Does this support the previous sentence or does the previous sentence support this?”
8. Determine the main point/main conclusion and note the scope of what it actually says.
   “What is the main point/conclusion here & what is the scope of elements in this?”

For Each passage

9. Identify presence/absence or an argument
   “Is there a conclusion?”
10. If no conclusion , identify the heart of the passage
    `
    A set of facts → inference/must be true/find the conclusion
    Paradox → resolve the paradox
    `
11. If yes conclusion, Map the logical link in a flow chart: [Premise → assumption → logical gap → Conclusion]
    * Identify the premise that directly supports the conclusion & its scope
    * Determine the Core Assumption:
    `
    “What new elements are there”
    “How did the author make this jump from premise to conclusion”
    “What must I assume to me true for me to believe this conclusion”
    `
    * If the assumption is not so clear, use the Falsification condition. Ask:
    “Under What circumstances , given the [Facts] in the argument, will the [conclusion] not hold”
    * Identify the logical gap
    “Am i fully convinced by this argument i.e is the argument weak or strong?” “What extra evidence is missing here that i need to be fully convinced?”

For each question stem:

13. Carefully read and identify the question stem.
    “What is this question stem asking of me?”
14. After reading the question stem, take a moment to mentally recap details you just gathered and define what you are looking for
15. Rephrase the question into a yes/No format will enable you to eliminate and choose the right answer with precision.
16. Always read each of the five answer choices completely. Ask yourself…
    `
    “What is this option simply saying”
    “Does it answer …rephrased question..?”
    `
17. Eliminate any answer choice that doesn’t answer your question

Question 2

What are the key things you must do before answering method of reasoning questions?

Answer 2

1. You must understand the logical structure of the argument
2. You must be able to identif main vs subsidiary conclusion
3. You must understand the logic details: how the argument was formed , including unstated assumptions.
4. You must decipher wether the argument/conclusion is valid or flawed - is the premise relevant to the concluion and how strong does it justify the concluion? is there any logical gap?
5. If there are 2 speakers, you must be able to identify how the 2nd speaker hurts or helps the first speakers argument, identify what each speakers conclusion is and each’s assumption. (were premise countered or additional factors given; was the conclusion rejected or did the 2nd speaker just present a consideration; was there a misunderstanding of point at issue; was there any misinterpretation of words; was the evidence relevant)
6. you must clearly understand the question stem and what is being asked of you. - Before proceeding to the answer choices, make sure you know exactly what part of the argument you are being asked about.
7. For boldface: analyse the relationship between the two boldfaced statement, how does the secondd affect the first. counter/attack/no effect?
8. You must have a very clear picture of all of the above and prephase in your head before jumping to answer choice
9. You must be aware that the ans choice may not be phrased like yours, so use the fact test like in must be true qtns
10. You must completely read every answer choice from start to finish.

If an answer choice describes any event that did not occur in the stimulus, then that answer is incorrect

If you cannot identify part of an answer as having
occurred in the stimulus, that answer is incorrect.

Question 3

5 common Method of reasoning incorrect answer types

Answer 3

1. New element answers e.g highlighting new info that the argument didnt do.
2. Partially true answers eg first part correct but second will be incorrect
3. Opposite answers.
4. Exaggerated answers
5. Reverse answers

Question 4

When an author agues that a claim “MIGHT/MAY not be true”… He..

Answer 4

Is NOT stating a Firm conclusion

Does NOT Reject the claim

Is “Considering the possibility” that the claim might be true

Is also considering the possibility that the claim may also not be true

Question 5

To Find the answer to a 2-speaker Method of reasoning question, you must do what 3 things?

Answer 5

1. Read through the exchange
2. Note any conclusions made by both speakers

3.Know how the 2 speakers each supported their conclusion

Question 6

The “5 step” strategy for answering Method of reasoning questions

Answer 6

1. Carefully read, breakdown and understand the argument’s structure & how it works
2. Identify the question type and what it’s asking of you
3. In your head, Summarise the argument’s method & logical flow in simple terms, before looking at the options
4. Carefully go through and choices and eliminate “obviously wrong” choices
5. Carefully analyse the final answer choice. (Do NOT guess/rely on ‘gut’, find PROOF!!)

Question 7

In answering 2-speaker method of reasoning questions, it’s helpful to analyse what element in an answer choice?

Answer 7

The VERB

By considering the verb in each answer choice, we can eliminate the ones that down match the passage

E.g if the argument says “could be”
correct - The author ‘suggested’
incorrect- The author ‘asserted’

Question 8

Method of reasoning Questions focus on which of the following…

a. How the argument is structured
b. Merits of the argument i.e whether its good/bad

Answer 8

How the argument is structured

our job is to know how the argument works, what supports what, the main idea and how its supported.
We don’t care if the argument is a good or bad one.

Question 9

Strategy for avoiding partially incorrect answers

Answer 9

Read the answer choice carefully and completely to the end.

Consider what each part says and whether its correct

eliminate any anger choice that has one part correct and the other partially correct/incorrect

Question 10

Strategy for avoiding answer choices that say things that resemble what the argument does

Answer 10

Really understand fully how the argument is structured, how it works, how each parts fit together

Knowing ‘vaguely’ will make you fall for the trap

Question 11

Argument: Sheila is a female, not a male, because she has XX chromosome

which answer choice is correct
a) The author made a consideration about Sheilas gender
b) The author states a fact about Sheilas gender

Answer 11

Correct answer is B

A fact/evidence is NOT a consideration

Facts = evidence that is true
Consideration = opinion not supported by facts

Question 12

What is the strategy to answering boldface questions?

Answer 12

1. Look for any conclusion.. a statement supported by other statements
2. Identify the reference point - main conclusion/idea
3. Pay attention to detail, considering context and keeping various parts of the passage straight in your mind.
4. Understand the relationships between the boldface portions and other statements, and the role they play in the argument

Question 13

Difference between when an author argues that;

a) The claim “May” be correct
b) The claim “Must” be correct or
“is” incorrect

Answer 13

A - The author ‘questions’ the claim
B- The author “argues against” the claim

Question 14

What is the CLUE for boldface questions

Answer 14

1 or 2 statements highlighted in BOLD in a passage

Question 15

What is the CLUE for 2- Speaker method of reasoning questions

Answer 15

2 speaker dialogue

Question 16

What is the CLUE for normal Method of reasoning questions

Answer 16

Question stem:

the author proceeds by
the author argues by

Question 17

Psychologist: The obligation to express gratitude cannot be fulfilled anonymously. However much society may have changed over the centuries, human psychology is still driven
primarily by personal interaction. Thus, the
important social function of positively reinforcing those behaviors that have beneficial
consequences for others can be served only if
the benefactor knows the source of the
gratitude.

Which one of the following most accurately
describes the role played in the psychologist’s
argument by the claim that -the obligation to express gratitude cannot be fulfilled anonymously?

Answer 17

It is the conclusion that the argument intended to support

Look out of situations where the main conclusion is typically placed in the first or second sentence, and the last sentence contains the subsidiary conclusion. In addition, the subsidiary conclusion is often preceded by a conclusion indicator such as “thus” or “therefore” while the main conclusion is not prefaced by an indicator.

Always use the conclusion test to identify main vs sub conclusion

Question 18

What type of Question stem is this

The argument proceeds by”

Answer 18

Method of reasoning

Question 19

What type of Question stem is this

“Which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used
above?

Answer 19

Method of reasoning

Question 20

What type of Question stem is this

“Which one of the following is an argumentative strategy employed in the argument?

Answer 20

Method of reasoning

Question 21

What type of Question stem is this

The claim that people have positive or negative
responses to many nonsense words plays which one of the following roles in the argument?

Answer 21

Method of reasoning

Question 22

What type of Question stem is this

“Aiesha responds to Adam’s argument by”

Answer 22

Method of reasoning

Question 23

T/F?

fact = consideration

Answer 23

False

A fact = evidence
Opinion = consideration

Question 24

T/F?

When i am asked to identify the role of statement in an argument, i just need to understand its role relative to the conclusion only and not to the passage as a whole.

Answer 24

False

You need to know both, its role to the main point and in the context of thewhole passage.

Question 25

# T/F? Analogy =Comparison

Answer 25

True ## Footnote An analogy is a comparison between two items. In argumentation, analogies are often used to clarify the relationship between the items or reveal a fundamental truth about one of the items, as in “To better understand the operating system of your computer, think of it as the brain of your system.” The use of “brain” in the preceding sentence is the analogy. Analogies can be used to challenge a position or support a position, but their strength often rests on the relevant similarities between the two items or scenarios.

Question 26

how do you prevent being confused by tricky answer choices in method of reason/boldface?

Answer 26

1. **Be sure you have understood the passage completely, Define what you're looking for and STICK TO IT! Shifting base will lead you to errors and being confused by the test makers** 2. IF you dont find any answer choice that describes what you had defined, then do **Fact test** - Always ask .."What does this answer choice mean? whats the main point here? Does this exactly match what the passage did or am i assuming? 3. When picking an answer choice ask - **can i find a clear reason to eliminate this?** - **if yes eliminate**. Dont look to see its correct but look to see that it is wrong until you find that it isnt`t ## Footnote To eliminate potential errors just **be sure of what you have seen and rephrased before jumping into the answer choice. If you dont have crytal-clear-clarity you leave room for the test makers to confuse you!** **Lesson** 1. This is why its so important to define what you're looking for properly & early on before jumping to answer choice....not doing this will open you up as prey to be confused by test takers. 2. **Define what youre looking for and stick to it, unless you dont find any answer choice describes what you had defined. Shifting base will lead you to errors**

Question 27

When i want to confirm if a claim/opinion/conclusion is fully/partially/not supported i....

Answer 27

--- put myself in as the judge that the author is trying to convince. Am i fully convinced with this opinion ? What **evidence** do i need to be convinced? And is this evidence provided? or they used other tactics to try to convince me

Question 28

Ways to identify each speaker´s conclusion in a 2-speaker passage

Answer 28

1. **Conclusion indicators** 2. If no conclusion indicator, ask where is this passage leading to? whats the main point here each author is tring to tell me - look for **proposals**, **predictions,** **opinion markers** 3. **Look at what the 2nd speaker adresses**, this **a clue** to tell you the **main point of the debate** eg if he is providing a counterpremise and concluding something might not occur - its a clue that the first speaker concluded that that thing will/may occur.

Question 29

# how will you Identify the concluion when therefore test still confuses? Columnist: Almost anyone can be an expert, for there are no official guidelines determining what an expert must know. Anybody who manages to convince some people of his or her qualifications in an area—whatever those may be—is an expert.

Answer 29

1. **Seperate the key components** *Key Components: Statement 1: “Almost anyone can be an expert.” Statement 2: “There are no official guidelines determining what an expert must know.” Statement 3: “Anybody who convinces others of their qualifications is an expert.”* 2. **Ask: “What Is the Author Trying to Prove here?** ... if still not clear 3. **Ask the suspect conclusion : “Why should I believe this claim"** *Suspect 1 - "Why should we believe that convincing others makes someone an expert?” The answer would require premises like - (1)No official guidelines exist.” Suspect 2 - "Why should i beleive that almost anyone can be an expert" The answer would require premises like - (1) No official guidelines exist. (2) Convincing others = expertise.* 4. **Compare the support for both claims "why" question** we can now see more clearly which is the conclusion - almost anyone can be an expert.

Question 30

In 1973, a remote town first acquired television. Shortly before broadcasts began there, a study was made of children's behavior. A similar study in the same community, after two years of TV, showed that the aggression rate among children of this age had increased by 160%. The conclusion drawn was that TV plays an important role in generating aggressive behavior in children. A second study, covering the same years, was made in two similar communities that had had television for decades. This study showed no change in the aggression rate from 1973 to 1975. The results of the second study: ## Footnote state the assumption made in the conclusion of the first study & how the results of the second study affects the conclusion.

Answer 30

1. Assumption : a "change in tv viewership" caused the "change in aggression rate" 2. The result of the second study confirms the first: it shows that when the cause is absent, the effect is also absent. ## Footnote Always note whether a change caused a change vs something caused a change.