Logical Reasoning Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Argument Analysis and Question Types

Name all the types of Logical Reasoning questions

1. Main Point

2. Argument Structure

3. Must be True

4. Strengthen

   1. Strengthen with necessary premise

   2. Strengthen with necessary premise

5. Weaken

6. Methods of Reasoning

   1. Error of Reasoning

7. Paradox

8. Cannot be True = Must be false

9. Argument Exchange

   1. Point of Argument

   2. Point of Issue

   3. Misinterpretation

10. Parallel Reasoning

    1. Flawed parallel Reasoning

11. Illustration

12. Argument Evaluation

    1. What is most “useful” in the context provided for the development of the case

    2. Accurate eval. of the L.R. question

13. Principle

What is the logical opposite of Must Be True?

Not Necessarily True

What is the logical opposite of Cannot Be False

Could be False

What is the logical opposite of Could Be True

Cannot be True

What is the logical opposite of Not Necessarily True

Must be false

What is the logical equal to Must Be True

Cannot be False

What is the logical equal to Not Necessarily True

Could be false

What is the logical equal to Could Be True

Not necessarily false

What is the logical equal to Cannot Be True

Must be False

Breakdown The Strat

Once carefully read determine if the passage is merely presenting facts or if it is argumentative. If there is a “point” to the passage then it is argumentative(if there isn’t its facts). Assuming its argumentative determine the conclusion and its premises. Is the argument valid?

What does a valid argument mean?

Does the conclusion logically follow from the premises if they are true otherwise if the conclusion is logical or the premises are false it opens up to attack the case.

Flawed argument

Is when the conclusion logically follows the premises but at least one of the premises themselves are false.

Invalid argument

Is when the conclusion doesn’t necessarily follow from the premises, like it “jumps” to a conclusion regardless if the premises are true or false.

Goal of a Main Point question

To identify the main point or argument of a passage. Remember these are also must be true questions so ur answer cannot just be the main point but also true.

Argument Structure

Calls to the role of a "line” within a passage, to which the answer must also be true.

Must be True

What most strongly supports X from the passage

Strengthen

Identify the strongest line, piece, or whatever given the context to strengthen the objective

Strengthen with Necessarily Premise

Look for indicators in which a line on argumentative passage suggests it NEEDS in order for X to work

Strengthen with Sufficient Premise

“checks the boxes” sort of speak of the objective

Weaken

attack or dismantle an argument or reasoning chain

Methods of reasoning

How is the argument built. How does it proceed or what strategy is being used

Error in reasoning

Identifies what in its structural reasoning objects or goes against the the desired objective

Parallel Reasoning

Find an argument that has the same method of reasoning as that found in the passage.

Flawed parallel reasoning

Find the exact method reasoning from the passage in the answer choices below but for its flawed counterpart. (aka since the argument was flawed, we must find the same flawed reasoning in our answer selection)

Paradox

Explain or resolve a discrepancy or “paradox” within the passage

Cannot be True = Must be False

Find something that directly conflicts or disproves with the objective or information from the passage.

A.Ex: Point of Argument

Literally is just trying to determine what the passage best connects too

A.Ex: Point of Issue

Identify a conflict or issue within the context of the question

A.Ex: Misinterpretation

Where Y will infer or misinterpret X’s point of argument or statement

Illustration

Best match for the picture(holistically to the passage)

Argument Evaluation

Two Types

1. What info is the most valuable here

2. What is the most accurate eval of this.

Principle

identify and or apply a broad general rule that applies not just to the topic but any other similar situation