Provable Questions Roadmap

Conclusion

Keywords: “main point” “main conclusion”

correct answer = a provable translation of the conclusion

backup plan = is this the translation of the conclusion

Inference

Keywords: “must be true” “follows logically” “inference” “properly inferred/properly be concluded/properly drawn”

correct answer = the thing you can definitely prove must be true

backup plan = does this have to be true

Most Strongly Supported

Keywords: “most strongly supported” “most strongly suggests”

correct answer = the thing you can prove is very, very, very likely to be true

backup plan = does this pretty much have to be true

Fill In

Keywords: “completes/concludes” or a blank at the end of the stimulus

correct answer = the thing you can prove that completes the author’s thought

backup plan = does this have to be true

Controversy

Keywords: “point at issue” “point of disagreement” “disagree” “differing opinions”

correct answer = the thing you can prove the two speakers disagree about

backup plan = does the first speaker have to believe this is true/false? does the second speaker believe this is true/false?

Agreement

Keywords: “agree on” “point of agreement” “committed to agreeing”

correct answer = the thing you can prove the two speakers agree about

backup plan = does the first speaker have to believe this is true/false? does the second speaker have to believe this is true/false?

Necessary Assumption

Keywords: “necessary/depends/required/relies” “assumes/assumptions” “the conclusion doe snot follow unless” “the argument assumes which one”

correct answer = the thing you can prove must be true, if the conclusion must be true

backup plan = if the conclusion is true, does this have to be true?

Method

Keywords: “argument proceeds by” “describes” “argumentative technique/method of reasoning/strategy of argumentation” “responds by (in Debates)”

correct answer = a provable description of what happened in the stimulus

backup plan = did this happen?

Argument Part

Keywords: “role in the argument/functions in the argument” “argument part” “the reference to/the statement that”

correct answer = a provable description of what the phrase is doing in the argument

backup plan = is this what the phrase is doing?

Classic Flaw

Keywords: “flaw/flawed” “most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it” “questionable technique employed”

correct answer = a provable description of what the argument did wrong

backup plan = is this what’s wrong with the argument? 

Loophole Flaw

Keywords: “most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it + [Loophole Flaw Prefix]

correct answer = a provable description of how the argument overlooked your loophole

backup plan = was it bad that the argument overlooked this?