Ch. 10: Provable Questions

Conclusion: what you’re looking for

A provable translation of the conclusion

“this” refers to

typically what came right before it

Inference: Question Stem

• “if the statements above is true, which of the following (“must also be true” or “can be properly drawn on the basis of them”)

• “which one of the following (“follows logically from the statements”, “can be properly concluded/inferred”)”.

Inference: what you’re looking for

The thing you can prove MUST DEFINELTY be true

Inference in arguments…

most commonly the NA

MSS: Question Stem

“….. most strongly supported” or “….most strongly suggests”

MSS: What you’re looking for

the thing that is VERY LIKELY to be true

MSS question stem vs Strengthen question stem

Strengthen: what would support the stimulus

MSS: what is supported by the stimulus

Fill in: what you’re looking for

The thing you can prove completes the authors thought

• inference + completion of last sentence

Controversy: Question stem

• “point at issue/point of disagreement”

• “disagree”

• “differing opinions”

Controversy: What you’re looking for

the thing you can prove the two speakers disagree about

• match ideas not specific/general terms

• sometimes it is one speakers NA

Agreement: Question stem

• “agree on”

• “point of agreement”

• “committed to agreeing to”

Agreement: what you’re looking for

The thing you can prove that the two speakers are agreeing about

• oftentimes shared NA

Necessary Assumption: Question Stem

• “necessary”

• “Depends”

• “required”

• “relies”

Necessary Assumption: What you’re looking for

the thing that MUST be true if the CONCLUSION is true

• negated loophole

• fills in gaps in premises

• hyper inference

Method: Question Stem

• “argument proceeds by”

• argumentative technique”

• “method of reasoning”

• “strategy of argumentation”

• “responds by”

Method: What you’re looking for

A provable description of what happened in the stimulus

Argument Part: Question Stem

• “role in the argument”

• “functions in the argument”

• “argument part”

• “the reference to”

• “the statement that”

• quoting a phrase from the stimulus

Argument Part: What you’re looking for

a provable description of what the argument is doing

for

premise indicator

Classic Flaw: Question Stem

• “most vulnerable to the criticism on the on the grounds that”

• “grounds that it”

• “questionable technique employed”

Classic Flaw: What you’re looking for

A provable description of what the argument did wrong

• Ask: “is this what is wrong with the argument?”

Loophole Flaw: Question Stem

“is flawed/questionable/vulnerable because it (loophole prefix)”

Loophole Flaw: What you’re looking for

A provable description of how the argument overlooked your loophole

• don’t chose a reasonable assumption NEEDS TO BE PROVABLE