Conclusions Types

Conclusions can be telling of the answer choice of a LR. It can signal what the arguer assumes.

Comparisons

Compares two elements with each other or one element with itself.

Common indicators: Comparative words (better than, healthier than, more useful than) can help you identify a conclusion as a comparison.

Examples:

• It’s clear that this year’s candidate is stronger than last year’s candidate.

• It’s clear that this year’s candidate understands the public’s wishes better than she did a year ago.

Causation

When one thing (such as an event, action, phenomenon) directly affects another, it's a causal relationship.

Note: If someone believes something to be true because of certain facts being true, that isn't necessarily a causal relationship. Example: My friend always calls me on Wednesdays. Therefore, she's definitely going to call me tomorrow. There is no direct cause and effect here because there isn't something that is directly affecting something else.

Example: Last night, I took cough medicine and today I feel much better. So that cough medicine is really effective. (Cause: cough medicine; effect: feeling better)

Assessments

When an arguer assigns a certain subjective attribute to something, you might call it an assessment.

Examples

• The flower is beautiful.

• This policy is very helpful.

• The outcome will be important.

Note: Scientific facts aren't assessments “The sun is made up of several gases” is a fact; “The sun is a joyful sight” is an assessment.

Recommendations

This type of conclusion asserts the best method or course of action (or, in its negative form, recommends against a certain method or course of action).

Examples

• In treating this disease, then, physicians should favor Treatment X.

• It’s likely that extending the warranty is the only way to gain new customers.

Top tip: look out for common indicators Often, a keyword such as “should” or “ought to” will signal a recommendation to you, but sometimes the recommendation is implied (such as in the example about the warranty).

Predictions

A prediction asserts the arguer’s opinion about something that will take place in the near or distant future.

Examples

• Obviously, the tennis match will be rescheduled.

• Our homeless population may not be reduced by next year.

Top tip for Identify the conclusion questions If the arguer believes something will or will not happen at some point in the future, the chances are good that it’s the argument’s main conclusion.

Simple Beliefs

This name may be somewhat misleading, since you could make the case that all conclusions are a sort of simple belief; however, some students find it useful to characterize any conclusion that isn’t one of the above types as a simple belief. These are conclusions that are plain claims that the arguer believes to be true and that aren't comparisons, assessments, recommendations, or predictions.

Examples

• It’s clear that the student cheated on the test.

• The thief is probably still in the house somewhere.

Definite Conclusion

(Degree of Conclusion)

Definite conclusions may also be referred to as categorical conclusions. They are often signaled by keywords such as:

• every

• all

• none

• never

• will

Any signal word that indicates that something is true 100% or 0% of the time can be classified as definite.

Top tip: In a match the structure or match the flaws question, the degree of the conclusion of the argument in the correct option will often match the degree of the conclusion of the argument in the passage.

Top tip: In flaw questions, definite conclusions can indicate that the arguer is overlooking other possibilities in drawing that conclusion.

Indefinite conclusions

(Degree of Conclusion)

You may see indefinite conclusions referred to as qualified conclusions. They’re often signaled by keywords:

• Likelihood: likely, unlikely, possible, could, might

• Quantity: some, most, more

• Frequency: rarely, seldom, often, sometimes, usually

• Proximity: almost, nearly

Any signal word that indicates that something isn’t necessarily true 100% or 0% of the time can be classified as indefinite.