Must Be False
- The answer Must Be False
- There is no way it could be true, the answer must absolutely be false.
Most Strongly Supported
- A Soft Must Be True
- It’s Close to Must Be True but Doesn’t have to be air tight
Examples of tight language
Must, equals, only when, absolutes
Sufficient Assumption
- Triggers an argument to be true
- Look for something that triggers or links (esp for diagram) or ties key parts together (be sure it’s in the right logical direction).
- Extreme choices can actually be helpful. Just make sure they are IN SCOPE.
A Necessary Assumption
- Word to look for are necessary, required, depends, rely, relies
- A litmus test for these is If you negate the answer choice, and the argument falls apart, that is the correct answer choice
- generally the correct answer choice will be softer (less absolute
Pseudo Sufficient/Justify Question Type
- Ask you to identify an assumption that is almost sufficient (triggers conclusion) to conclude that the reasoning in the stimulus is valid.
- Alone, it can’t take the argument to the point of complete validity, but it gets most of the way there.
- Example of question:”Which one of the following principles, if true, most helps to justify the reasoning above?
- The answer has to be the most true, but not completely true
Strengthen Questions
- Phrased with Strengthen or lends the most support.
- Answer will either 1) give more reasons 2) Bolster a given reason.
- In tougher questions, take advantage of process of elimination.
Weaken
- Question will ask for the answer choice that weakens, strongest logical counter or undermines.
- To weaken an argument, you must take away support.
- You can attack the premise (doesn’t occur often)
- You can weaken the connection between the premises and argument (most likely).
- You want to attack the reasons the questions are based on.
Argument Part
Taking the template view of the argument-Claim, Analogy,
Method of Reasoning-
- Similar to argument part question.
- The answer is the map to the logical reasoning
- There might be referential phrasing or abstract language. –It takes a broader view to an argument
Answer Choice Patters
-Correct Answer choices are subtle and overlooked
-Attractive choices are attractive but flawed (RC and LR)
Identity
Referential phrasing
Referencing a subject without the exact name of the subject
Intermediate Conclusion
- The secondary conclusion of an argument
- Can work as a premise as well as a secondary conclusion
- Never the main conclusion
Premise
- A potentially supporting point that we assume is true
- They support the conclusion
Steps to an LR
1) Read Question
2) Identify Question Type (employ Q type strategy)
3) Read the Stimulus
4) Identify Conclusion
5) Predict the answer before looking at answer choices
6) Answer
