Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Critical Reasoning – or When Philosophy Meets Language…

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Types of Questions Using language to justify / analyze statements or situations logically. Questions deal typically with: –Assumption –Strengthen / Weaken –Flaw –Inference –Explain

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Assumption Questions— Wrong Answers Go beyond scope of argument Use language too extreme Do not support argument

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Assumption Question— Phrasing Which of the following is assumed by author? Which of the following, if added, would make the conclusion valid? The validity of the argument depends on which of the following? Which one does the argument presuppose?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Assumption Questions— Method Identify the conclusion & evidence in stimulus Spot the author’s key assumptions Denial Test: –Deny / Negate Statement –Does the argument fall apart?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Strengthen / Weaken Questions Most common type of questioning Phrasing: –Which most strengthens/weakens? –Which would provide the most support for / most seriously damage the argument?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Strengthen / Weaken Questions Phrasing: –Which, if true, would make the argument more persuasive? –Which, if true, would cast the most doubt on the argument?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Strengthen / Weaken Questions—Method Identify evidence & conclusion Find author’s key assumptions  Look for answer that reinforces or undermines the validity of the author’s conclusion.

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Strengthen / Weaken Questions—Method S/W questions commonly: –Go outside the scope of the argument. –Introduce irrelevant comparisons. –Do the opposite of what they’re supposed to do. Look for qualifying modifiers (some, occasionally, possibly) which might not make the argument strong enough.

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Flaw Questions Less common Which statement corrects the flaw (absurdity, defect, mistake, etc.) in the stimulus?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Flaw Questions Resemble “weaken” questions: –Weaken: find information that, if true, would weaken the argument. –Flaw: you know the argument or stimulus is flawed (= is weak); you don’t have to prove it. Method: process of elimination

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Inference Questions Use the entire stimulus as evidence and draw your own conclusions. Remember on GMAT: inference = reading between the lines Rely on the TRUTH: If a choice needs any assumptions, throw it out!

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Inference Questions Wording—many different ways, among which: –Do the stimulus facts support the following conclusions? –What conclusions can be properly drawn from the stimulus? –If the stimulus is true, which statement must be true?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Inference Questions Wrong answers: –Outside scope of passage –Too extreme (exclusive adverbs: never, always, must, etc.) –Could be true, but could also not be true (= aren’t necessarily true)

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Explain Questions Do not present an argument Describe a situation with 2 (or more) apparently contradictory facts Wording: –Which, if true, would explain…? / contributes most to…? / best helps to…?

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success Explain Questions Wrong Answers: –Touch upon only one fact / side in the argument –Deepen the incomprehension –Make an irrelevant comparison –Misrepresent the situation’s scope Method: get a good grasp of the situation that needs to be explained

Centre de Ressources Linguistiques Session 5GMAT Verbal Success How ETS builds arguments? ConclusionPremiseAssumptio n