Strengthen and Weaken

Strengthening Question Type

Introduction

• ask us to find a new piece of Info

• New Piece of Info will serve as evidence contributing towards Conclusion.

• The Correct answer choice Does not necessarily justify the argument, nor is it necessarily an assumption of the argument. The correct answer choice simply helps the argument in some way.

• The support provided by answer choice could be minor or major.

• Don't doubt the truth of options. (Assume them to be true)• Whenever you see the word 'Advertisement' Prefacing the stimulus, be on the look for misleading or faulty logic.

Strengthen Cause and Effect Reasoning:    

 a. Eliminate any alternate causes for the stated effect.  

b. Show that when the cause occurs, the effect occurs.

c. Show that when the cause does not occur, the effect does not occur.

d. Eliminate the possibility of the stated relationship being reversed.  

e. Show that the data used to make the causal statement are accurate, or eliminate possible problems with the data.

Steps to follow:     

1. Identify the conclusion - that's what you are trying to strengthen!     

2. Personalize the argument: Place yourself inside the situation and think how you would react.     

3. Look for weakness in the argument:           

     a. Close any gap or hole in the argument.          

     b. Find missing link between a premise and a conclusion: Bring an assumption to light.

• Find Answer Choices that strengthen the analogy or survey, or establish their soundness.

An answer choice:   

• Strengthens or (Correct Answer)    

• Weakens or 

• Does nothing.

Wrong Answer Choices

• Reverse Logic Trap: Weakens instead of Strengthening    

• No Tie Trap: Does not do anything to the Argument in Passage.

• Answer addresses something other than that we were asked to address.

• Opposite Answers

• Shell Game answers

• Out of Scope Answers

• Except Questions: Correct Answer Choice should just not strengthen the Conclusion. It may weaken or not do anything to it.

 4 Options will strengthen and pick the odd one out answer that is not  strengthening.

Weakening Question Type

• Indicators of Weaken Q: 

weaken, attack, counter, call into question, undermine, refute, argue against, cast doubt, challenge, damage.

• Introduction

• An argument will be present.

• find a new piece of info

• if added to the argument, will make the conclusion less likely to be true.

• New piece of evidence will attack some assumption.

• Info does not have to be true, as is the case with Assumption Qs.

• Identify, isolate and assess the premises and the Conclusion.• Info in the Stimulus is under suspect. Read it carefully and look for holes/ gaps.

• Ways an answer choice could affect the conclusion:    

○ May Strengthen     

○ May weaken - Correct Answer.      

○ May not affect the Conclusion.

• Steps: 

○ Focus on conclusion and how author arrived at conclusion 

○ Personalize argument

• Common Weakening Scenarios

○ Incomplete info 

○ Improper Comparison: Compare items essentially different. 

○ Qualified Conclusion: Conclusion left open to attack.

• Wrong Answer Choices 

○ Reverse Logic Trap: Strengthening instead of Weakening. 

○ No Tie Trap: Does not do anything to the Argument in Passage. 

○ Answer addresses something other than that we were asked to address. 

○ Opposite Answers 

○ Shell Game answers 

○ Out of Scope Answers

• Except Questions: Correct Answer Choice should just not weaken the Conclusion. It may strengthen or not do anything to it. 4 Options will Weaken and Pick the odd one out answer.