Powerful-Provable

Strengthen Correct Answer

The most powerful thing you can find to help the argument’s conclusion

Strengthen Back-Up Plan

Does this make the conclusion more likely to be true?

Strengthen Question Stem Keywords

• Strengthen

• Most helps to… justify / strengthen / support

Weaken Correct Answer

The most powerful thing you can find to destroy the argument’s conclusion

Weaken Back-Up Plan

Does this make the conclusion less likely to be true?

Weaken Question Stem Keywords

• Weaken

• Most undermines the conclusion

SA Correct Answer

The most powerful thing you can find to prove the conclusion 100% valid

SA Back-Up Plan

If this is true, is the argument 100% valid?

SA Question Stem Keywords

• Enable the conclusion to be properly draw

• The conclusion follows logically if

• Justify the conclusion

Counter Correct Answer

The most powerful thing the first speaker could say to destroy the second speaker’s argument

Counter Back-Up Plan

Is this something the first speaker would say, and does it hurt the second speaker’s argument?

Counter Question Stem Keywords

• Counter

• In response to

Contradiction Correct Answer

The thing that contradicts literal words from the stimulus

Contradiction Back-Up Plan

Does this contradict the stimulus?

Contradiction Question Stem Keywords

• Cannot be true

• Violate the principle

• Could be true EXCEPT

Evaluate Correct Answer

A powerful pop quiz for the argument’s validity

Evaluate Back-Up Plan

Is this crucial for the argument’s validity?

Evaluate Question Stem Keywords

• Evaluate the argument

• Most helpful to know

• Relevant to evaluating

Resolution Correct Answer

The most powerful thing you can find to make the paradox make sense

Resolution Back-Up Plan

Does this make the paradox make sense?

Resolution Question Stem Keywords

• Most helps to… explain / resolve / account for

• Discrepancy

• Paradox

• Surprising result

Powerful Questions

• These questions desire strongly worded correct answers

• Contain specific, concrete details that link new information directly to the stimulus

Powerful Keywords

• All

• Every

• None

• Never

• Only 

• Require

• Every time

• Always

Provable Questions

• These questions desire conservatively worded correct answers

• They’re straightforward and easily proven

Provable Keywords

• Could

• Can 

• (At least) some

• (At least) one

• Tend to

• Not all

• Varies

• Usually 

• Possible

• Not necessarily 

• Possibly 

• Sometimes

• May 

• Does not depend on

SW SCCER

All of the powerful question types:

• Strengthen

• Weaken

• Sufficient Assumption

• Counter

• Contradiction

• Evaluate

• Resolution