In a written argument, premises present factors or claims that usually support what?

Premises present facts or claims that usually support the conclusion of the argument

Premises + _____ = Conclusion ?

Assumptions

What is a premise?

Premises are STATED pieces of information or evidence that generally provide support for the given conclusion.

They may be facts, opinions or claims (but not the overall claim the author is making).

What is an Assumption? How visible is it in an argument?

Assumptions are UNSTATED parts of the argument that are NECESSARY to reach the given conclusion.

They are the 'unseen foundation' of the argument.

In analysing an argument, what's the FIRST thing you should do?

In analysing an argument, the FIRST thing you should do is look for the conclusion, which is the main point of the argument.

A conclusion is always the last sentence of an argument.

True or False?

FALSE - Conclusions can also appear as the first sentence in an argument.

After finding the conclusion in an argument, what is the next step to evaluate the argument?

Look for the premises that lead to the conclusion...

Premises include ALL the pieces of information written in the argument (EXCEPT the conclusion). Premises provide evidence that normally supports, or leads to, the conclusion.

Everything EXCEPT the conclusion in an argument is a premise?

True or False?

True. 

Everything EXCEPT the conclusion is a premise.

Assumptions can be found clearly stated in an argument.

True or False?

FALSE - Assumptions are NEVER found stated in an argument. However, they ARE necessary to reach the given conclusion.

Most of the time, the conclusion of an argument in the GMAT is presented in one of 3 common ways... What are they?

• The QUESTION itself CONTAINS the conclusion 

• The QUESTION HINTS AT the conclusion in the argument

• The argument contains an OBVIOUS CONCLUSION

List 8 CONCLUSION SIGNAL WORDS

Any 8 of these...

Therefore,

As a result,

Suggests,

Indicates,

Accordingly,

So,

Consequently,

Thus,

Hence ,

It follows that,

Should

LIST 4 COMMON PREMISE SIGNAL WORDS

Any 4 of these...

Since,

Due to,

As a result of,

Because,

Given that,

As

When the conclusion is not obvious, first ____ all ____, then determine which _____ follows logically from the others....

Claims often contain one or more of what 3 types of language? Explain each.

a. Predict the Future - look for verbs or verb constructions in the future tense or otherwise refer to the future (will, should, can be expected to, could result in, are likely to)

b. Subjective Opinion - Anything that expresses an opinion is likely to be a claim. Similarly, anything that cannot be proven, only argued, is likely to be a claim.

c. Cause and Effect - These statements are signalled by a number of key words: 

- If X happens, then Y happens

- As a result of OR because of OR since X, Y will    

  happen

- X happens, so Y will result

In identifying a claim in an argument, explain the process of the 'Therefore Test'...

The conclusion of the argument is the FINAL CLAIM. Therefore, every other claim leads to the conclusion, which is LOGICALLY LAST in the sequence of events.

If you have 2 claims,  ask yourself: does X lead to Y? Or does Y lead to X?

If you have identified 2 claims X and Y, in an argument, how do you identify the conclusion out of those claims using the 'Therefore Test'?

Remember, the deduction that takes place last logically (or chronologically) in the sequence of events is the conclusion.

Identify the final claim in the logical chain of events... 

... Try saying the claims in 2 ways:

1. "X, therefore Y". If this works, then Y is the conclusion.

2. "Y, therefore X". If this works, then X is the conclusion.

Note: You can also use other connectors besides therefore --> e.g. so, thus and as a result.

When should you use the 'Therefore Test'

Only use the 'Therefore Test' if the question doesn't tell you what the conclusion is, or does not give you keywords from the argument that point to the conclusion. 

IF the question DOES provide such information, that information trumps the 'Therefore Test'.

What are BOUNDARY WORDS & PHRASES? Why are they useful?

Boundary words limit the scope of an argument and can be useful in identifying incorrect answer choices

What are Extreme Words in an argument?

What function do they provide?

Give some examples of Extreme Words.

Extreme Words are the oppposite of boundary words - they make the argument very broad or far-reaching.

Extreme Words open up an argument unreasonably, making it very susceptible to attack.

Extreme Word examples: always, never, all, none