LR: Argument Strategy

Overview

Practice “Good Reading” Upfront: Identify the core claim of the stimulus, and focus on clarity of key concepts.

  • Anticipate flawed arguments and assumptions as you read.

GOAL: Read for logical clarity and connect ideas within the stimulus to effectively understand the argument and effectively engage with the answer choices.

  • Spot the Main Conclusion: “What is the stimulus trying to convince me of?”

    • Anchor yourself to the key details within the stimulus and what the argument intends to prove.

    • Identify the core argument to understand relevant topics [focus on the premises and main conclusion].

    • Assumptions are always tied to the conclusion.

                → work backwards from the MC to understand the reasoning.

  • Don’t get lost in the details: Separate filler and context from the premises and conclusion.

Strategy

  1. Translate Ideas:

  • Tie abstract concepts to tangible ideas.

  • Rephrase the stimulus: don’t get lost in abstract concepts and unnecessary details.

  1. Read Predictively:

  • Stay engaged while reading the stimulus.

  • Understand patterns in reasoning and key concepts to identify within the answer choices.

  • “Narrow Search”: Always pre-phrase an answer after reading the stimulus.

        → Understand when AC’s are going in the wrong or right direction.

  1. Eliminate Aggressively:

  • Develop a strong understanding of the stimulus: Use this understanding and pre-phrases to guide the analysis of answer choices.

  • Identify what’s wrong with an answer choice: Use piecemeal analysis.

        → Analyze key differences between answers.

  • The correct answer choice will directly interact with the argument’s reasoning and core concept.

    • Identify an AC’s relevance: Analyze the AC’s impact on the argument.

  • Spot Trap Answer Choices:

    • Unsupported Strength: Overly ridged AC’s that lack support.

    • Irrelevant ACs that are out of the argument’s scope.

    • ACs that fail to engage with the argument’s reasoning: “fluff” with no impact or relevance.

Recovering from Confusion

  1. Skim the stimulus: Identify the core concept: Main conclusion and premises.

  • Gain enough clarity to make an educated decision.

  • “Gut Check”: Identify red flags within answer choices and use the process of elimination.

        → Flag and move on!

  1. Think like a critic:

  • Read the stimulus with skepticism: Spot assumption gaps, engage with the argument’s reasoning and support structure.

        → Anticipate assumption gaps and flawed reasoning.

  • Spot assumptions: Identify leaps from the stated premises to the conclusion claim.

  • Read predictively: Identify reasoning patterns, don’t get lost in the small details.

    • Patterns > Isolated facts + fluff

Question Review

Prioritize reviewing over question volume: Learn the why behind mistakes.

  • Review the subject matter/ argument, your prediction, why you chose a specific answer, traps within answer choices, and why the correct answer choice was better.

    • Build awareness on how you think, track patterns.