FLAWS EXAMPLES NUANCES DEFINITIONS

Geographic Correlation Example

In the southern province, people who own pickup trucks are more likely to own satellite dishes than people who do not own pickup trucks. Therefore, the purchase of a pickup truck will lead one to purchase a satellite dish

Temporal Correlation Example

In the last decade, the city has imposed lower speed limits on over 70% of its roadways. In that time, the number of traffic fatalities per capita has decreased. Therefore, the lower speed limits have saved lives.

Entity Based Correlation Example

The polar bear has no natural predators in its range. Interestingly, scientists have proven that the polar bear is missing a gene associated with fear of the unknown. Therefore, lack of a need to avoid predators has caused the polar bear to evolve without this gene.

What is causation?

a link between or among variables that implies or states cause and effect, which includes the direction of the causal relationship

What is correlation?

any link between the two variables (characteristics) that does not express causation, no matter how weak

What is a temporal correlation?

two characteristics in the same time frame

What is a geographic correlation?

two characteristics in the same geographic area

What is an entity based correlation?

two characteristics in the same species, population, person, age group, etc

False Alarm in CC & what to look for instead

Denied Causality | CS, AA, NE, S-G

Primary weakener on the LSAT?

Alt Cause

Putting forth an Alt Cause for the correlation weakens the arg because it provides a

competing causal explanation

eliminating alt cause would

STN

reverse causality does what to the arg

asserts that the causal relationship is actually reverse of the one asserted and WKNs

eliminate reverse causality does what to the arg

asserts that the causal relationship is not the reverse of the one asserted and STNs

mechanism is

rare and STN arg, it's really just describing the nuts and bolts of the causal relationship

what is a control group

can be naturally occurring or experimental. removes the factor that scientists believe to be the cause

what is a treatment group

has the treatment and can STN or WKN depending on whether the effect is present

NO CAUSE NO EFFECT

STN

NO CAUSE YES EFFECT

WKN

YES CAUSE NO EFFECT

WKN

YES CAUSE YES EFFECT

STN

TMs prefer what type of language with what quirk

STN but love alt cause sm so allow WKN

Different Situations Example

During my entire undergraduate career, I never started writing a paper until the night before it was due and I earned an “A” on every paper. Therefore, now that I work for the Attorney General, I can rest assured that I do not have to start working on a case until the night before the first hearing.

Different Times Example

The UT football team beat OU last year. Therefore, the UT football team will beat OU this year.

Different Groups Example

Students who attend The University of Texas are typically drunks. Therefore, Students who attend Harvard University are typically drunks.

Different People Example

My parents gave my sister a brand new car when she turned sixteen. Therefore, they should give me a brand new car when I turn sixteen.

Different Arguments Example

Some scientists point to the enormous percentage of sea turtles that die on their way to the sea as a threat to the sea turtle’s existence. However, an enormous percentage of monarch butterflies die on their migration from tropical to temperate climates, yet no one would argue that monarch butterflies are endangered. Therefore, the sea turtles are not endangered

Critical Similarities STN in what 4 Q Types especially

STN, NEC, SUF, RCON

NO change over time STNs because

neither has changed

Critical Differences WKN in what 2 Q Types especially

WKN and FL

Critical differences aka

shit changes over time

Even worse/even better does what

STN and solidifies the analogy

Missing Data re Alternative example

Cain & Abel's has great drink specials. Therefore, Cain & Abel's is better than Posse East.

Missing Comparison in EVID example

Baby A's has purple margaritas. Chuy's has regular margaritas. Therefore, Baby A's is better than Chuy's.

Other Factors example

Cain & Abel's has great drink specials and Posse East does not have great drink specials. Therefore, Cain & Abel's is better than Posse East.

Missing Connection to Options

I love hot sauce. Therefore, I prefer Baby A's to Chuy's.

NE becoming comparison

Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Therefore, planting trees reduces CO2 in the atmosphere.

REC becoming comparison

I do not have a lot of free time today, but I will run in a 10K race tomorrow. Therefore, I should buy new running shoes today.

Conc 'NO WAY' Example

English 101 is not required for my major. English 101

deals with boring material. Therefore, there is no reason to take English 101.

Conc 'Gotta Be' Example

I have to go to school. I crashed my car and it is beyond repair. Therefore, I must take the bus to school.

Acs that Deal with ASS Directly

A - state ASS (STN)

B - state opp of ASS (WKN)

Acs with Specificity

STN - bring up & eliminate some specific 'other' factor

WKN - bring up some specific 'other' factor

ACs describe the flaw

in generic terms

EXTC & CC

EXTC fits into CC

EXTC & S-G

E in EXTC often eliminates one or two very specific options, where C eliminates all

CS Example

Grace won this year’s spelling bee, which included the reigning champion from the previous two years. Therefore, Grace studied hard for this year’s spelling bee.

TICNIE

Term in Conclusion not in Evidence

Using Flaw to Answer ACs

describe the flaw, state ASS, contrapostive

The most common CAC for WKN will provide info to make the

trig seem true and result seem false aka trig true result false

the only way to violate an if then statement is

trig true result false

every CSN is also

EXTC

CSN simply put

going against the arrows

Naked Trigger Example

If one gets hit by a car, then one will experience

pain. Therefore, Diem will experience pain.

Supported Trigger Example

If one gets hit by a car, then one will experience

pain. Coral plays in traffic. Therefore, Coral

experiences pain.

Complex Trigger Example

If one gets hit by a car and the car weighs more

than two tons, then one will break bones. Therefore, Betty will have broken bones

CAC in ASST tend to deal with the ASS very

directly

What is the ASS in this example:

The general public eats too many carbs per day. Therefore Abe eats too many carbs.

This characteristic of the GP applies to Abe

What is the ASS in this example:

That paragraph is convoluted and incomprehensible. Thus, each sentence in the paragraph is convoluted and incomprehensible.

This characteristic of the paragraph applies to each sentence

What is the ASS in this example:

The City Council has been irresponsible with taxpayer money. Thus, Councilmember Jones has been irresponsible with taxpayer money

This characteristic of the city council applies to Jones

Stating a similarity between the group and individual would

STN

Bringing up a different between the group and the individual would

WKN

Representative Example:

Almost everyone who I talked to at the UT snowboarding club believes that smoking pot is morally acceptable. Therefore, most Americans believe that smoking pot is morally acceptable

UTSC is representative of 51% Americans

Part to Whole Example:

The leg of the chair is made entirely of wood. Therefore,

the chair is made entirely of wood.

The leg is representative of the entire chair

Dominates Example:

Real estate markets are not doing well. Therefore, the economy is not doing well.

REM dominate Whole Econ

Stating a similarity between would

STN

Stating a specific difference would

WKN

Baseline Examples

- The Sandbums and the Volleynerds tied for first place at the annual Vermont Sand Volleyball Tournament. Surprisingly, the Volleynerds drank beer all day, while the Sandbums did not drink any booze. Therefore, drinking beer does not alter a volleyball team’s playing ability.

- People who regularly take sleeping pills tend to have more difficulty falling asleep than people who do not take sleeping pills. Clearly, sleeping pills do not help people to fall asleep.

- Roads with clearly marked center lines have more

accidents than those without clearly marked center lines. Thus, something about center lines must be making roads more dangerous

Common Topics in BL

Roads and Doctors

Group Issues in BL

Self Selecting and Expert Selected

increasing the probability of differing starting points for the two groups compared in E would

WKN

reducing the probability of differing starting points for the two groups compared in E would

STN

Don't Overthink BL

DIFFERENT groups means potentially DIFFERENT individuals with DIFFERENT issues

Thought v Reality Example:

Experts in the field of Scientology agree that treating depression with medication is pointless. Therefore, treating depression with medication is pointless.

Competing Sources Example:

Although the traditional theory states that the perihelion of Mercury will not disappear until the year 2750 or later, the latest theory of the perihelion of Mercury predicts that the perihelion is shrinking and will disappear by the year 2040. Thus, our grandchildren will be deprived of the opportunity to view the perihelion.

Records v Reality Example:

Records from Eastside Hospital indicate that the average age of death for patients at the hospital is 47 years of age. Clearly, people no longer enjoy a life expectancy of 78 years

Complication in BI

E is truth, but TRUTH required to accept here is merely that the experts 'believe' something or that the data 'indicate' something. DO NOT assume that what they believe/indicate is TRUTH

FL Combo in BI

THvR & S-G

Give credibility to

STN

Take way credibility to

WKN

Reality to Belief Example

Jared drank beer today. Therefore, Jared believes that he is legally intoxicated

Reality to Intent Example

Jared drank beer today. Therefore, Jared wanted to become legally intoxicated

Reality to Knowledge Example

The legal definition of intoxication is having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater. Jared’s blood alcohol content is over .08. Therefore, Jared knows that he is legally intoxicated.

Belief to Reality (BI) Example

Jared believes that Ashley is legally intoxicated.

Therefore, Ashley must be legally intoxicated.

Intent to Reality Example

Ashley intends to become legally intoxicated on

her birthday. Therefore, Ashley will become legally

intoxicated on her birthday.

Discipline in THvR

various kinds of thoughts and various persons thoughts

Not proven true examples where the evidence says 'hey we didn't prove something to be true therefore it must be false'

You failed to prove that you have ever taken a shower. Therefore, you have never showered.

Scientists purport to show that Pluto is a planet. However, their methodology is flawed. Thus, Pluto is not a planet.

The prosecution failed to convict me, thus proving my innocence!

Not proven false examples where the evidence says 'hey we didn't prove something to be false therefore it must be false'

My roommate cannot prove that he did not drink the last beer from the fridge. So, he obviously drank the last beer in the fridge.

Rates to Numbers Example:

Six percent of St. Edward's University students attend law school. Four percent of UT students attend law school. Therefore, more St. Edward's University students than UT students attend law school.

ASS: roughly the same number of students

Numbers to Rates Example:

Last year 750 skateboarding injuries were reported in Austin. Last year 1,000 jogging injuries were reported in Austin. Therefore, skateboarding is safer than jogging.

ASS: roughly the same number of participants

Numbers to Rates (percentage chance) Example:

More of our salespeople with liberal arts degrees are successful than our salespeople with medical degrees. Therefore, we should hire the candidate with a liberal arts degree instead of the candidate with the medical degree.

ASS: Roughly the same number with each degree

DD Examples:

If one attains an education, one will have a fulfilling

life. Therefore, the more education you have the

more fulfilling your life will be.

The higher the elevation the less humidity is in the

air. Houston has a higher elevation than New

Orleans. So, Houston must not be humid.

Permissive - Absolute Example

Amy might do well on the LSAT®. Therefore, she will score above 178.

Able to - Will

Thomas has enough money to buy whisky for dinner. So, he will buy whisky for dinner.

51- 100

The public generally accepts the idea that the world is not flat. So, everyone rejects flat-earth theory, even the most ardent supporters.

Bad Personal Choices so bad work example

Thomas Jefferson made illegal moonshine. Therefore we cannot believe his assertions regarding tyranny.

biased source example

Walker recommends recycling, citing environmental

concerns. However, Walker owns a recycle center, earns a fortune from recycled goods, giving him self-serving reasons to recommend that we recycle. So, clearly, we should not recycle.

Hypocrite example

Walker recommends recycling, citing environmental

concerns. However, Walker does not recycle. So, clearly, Walker’s advice is not worth following.

CIRC Examples

Dogs are not allowed in this park because this park does not allow dogs.

--

The Texas Chili Parlour is a fun place to hang out. After all, we know that fun people hang out there since it is a fun place.

VT Examples

John argued that since our Thai food trailer expects lots of business today, we should go get the ginger to spice things up. However, that will not help. After all, Liam O’Malley, our only red-headed friend, knows nothing about cooking or the food service industry and he is a little boring.

--

I really want to take advantage of my friend’s upcoming visit to catch up on old times. But, my mother taught me not to take advantage of others’ situations. So, I will not try to catch up on old times.

IG Obvious/Remark examples

Ibis. I see countless sea shells as I walk along the beach early in the morning among the throngs of elderly beachcombers picking up seashells. However, I see no seashells on the beach in the afternoons. Therefore, sea creatures or the tide must be removing seashells from the beach and taking the seashells that would've back to the ocean.

--

Jimena. I overate at the potluck holiday office party

because I felt obliged to sample all of my coworkers’ hard work in creating the dishes. Therefore, I do not feel well right now. Coral. You were obviously not thinking. After all, why would

you eat so much that you get sick? You know better.