Powerful Question Types

Question 1

Strengthen

Answer 1

• Correct Answer: A provable description of how the argument overlooked your Loophole
• Back-Up Plan: Was it bad that the argument overlooked this?
• Question Stem Keywords: most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it + [Loophole Flaw Prefix]

Question 2

Weaken

Answer 2

• Correct Answer: The most powerful thing you can find to destroy the argument’s conclusion
• Back-Up Plan: Does this make the conclusion less likely to be true?
• Question Stem Keywords: weaken, most undermines the conclusion

Question 3

Sufficient Assumption

Answer 3

• Correct Answer: The most powerful thing you can find to prove the conclusion 100% valid
• Back-Up Plan: If this is true, is the argument 100% valid?
• Question Stem Keywords: enable the conclusion to be properly drawn / the conclusion follows logically if, justify the conclusion

Question 4

Counter

Answer 4

• Correct Answer: The most powerful thing the first speaker could say to destroy the second speaker’s argument
• Back-Up Plan: Is this something the first speaker would say and does it hurt the second speaker’s argument?
• Question Stem Keywords: counter, in response to

Question 5

Contradiction

Answer 5

• Correct Answer: The thing that contradicts literal words from the stimulus
• Back-Up Plan: Does this contradict the stimulus?
• Question Stem Keywords: cannot be true, violate the principle, could be true EXCEPT

Question 6

Evaluate

Answer 6

• Correct Answer: A powerful pop quiz for the argument’s validity
• Back-Up Plan: Is this crucial for the argument’s validity?
• Question Stem Keywords: evaluate the argument, most helpful to know / relevant to evaluating

Question 7

Resolution

Answer 7

• Correct Answer: The most powerful thing you can find to make the Paradox make sense
• Back-Up Plan: Does this make the Paradox make sense?
• Question Stem Keywords: most helps to + explain / resolve / account for, discrepancy / paradox / surprising result