CHAPTER 13: EVALUATE THE ARGUMENT QUESTIONS

• Evaluate the Argument questions ask you to consider the question, statistic, or piece of information that would best help determine the logical validity of the argument presented in the stimulus.

• You must select the answer choice that decides whether the argument is good or bad. In short, you must simply ask the question that will best help analyse the validity of the argument

• Evaluate the Argument questions are the only questions that does not fall into one of the three question families. They are actually a combination of a Strengthen question and a Weaken questions

  • In Second and Third family questions, the information in the stimulus is suspect, so you should search for the reasoning error present

  • The answer choices are accepted as given, even if they include “new” information

• Evaluate the Argument question stems almost always use the word “evaluate” or a synonym such as “judge” or “assess”, but the intent is always identical: the question stem asks you to identify the piece of information that would be most helpful in assessing the argument.

• Question stem examples:

  • The answer to which of the following questions would contribute most to an evaluation of the argument?

  • Clarification of which of the following issues would be most important to an evaluation of the skeptics’ position?

  • Which of the following would be most important to know in evaluation the hypothesis in the passage?

  • Which of the following would be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of George’s argument?

  • Which of the following would be most helpful to know in order to judge whether what the scientist subsequently learned calls into question the hypothesis?

The Variance Test:

• In order to determine the correct answer choice on an Evaluate the argument question, apply the variance test

• The Variance test consists of supplying two polar opposite responses to the question posed in the answer choice and then analysing how the varying responses affect the conclusion in the stimulus.

• If different responses produce different effects on the conclusion, then the answer choice is correct.

• If different responses do not produce different effects, then the answer choice is incorrect

• After you have narrowed your answer choices to the Contenders, or to the one answer choice you believe is correct, then apply the Variance test. Do not apply the Test to all five answers

• The variance test will work regardless of the nature of the answer choice

  • For eg: If an answer choice asks "Are corporate or environmental interests more important?" first test "Corporate interests are more important" as a response and then test "Environmental interests are more important" as a response. If the answer choice is correct, one response should strengthen the argument and one response should weaken the argument. If the answer choice is incorrect, neither response will have an effect on the argument

CHAPTER REVIEW

• Evaluate the Argument questions ask you to consider the question, statistic, or piece of information that would best help determine the logical validity of the argument presented in the stimulus

• Evaluate the Argument questions are a combination of the Second and Third families, and you should keep the following considerations in mind:

  • In all Second and Third Family questions, the information in the stimulus is suspect, so you should search for the reasoning error present

  • The answer choices are accepted as given, even if they include “new” information

• The question stems almost always use the word “evaluate” or a synonym such as “judge” or “assess”

• To determine the correct answer choice, apply the Variance Test by supplying two opposite responses to the question posed in the answer choice and then analyse how the varying responses affect the conclusion in the stimulus. If different responses produce different effects on the conclusion, the answer choice is correct. If different responses don’t produce different effects, the answer choice is incorrect

• The Variance Test should only be applied to Contenders (to determine which one if correct) or to the answer choice you believe is correct (to confirm your selection)