Primary Objective #1:

Determine whether the stimulus contains an argument or if it is only a set of factual statements

Premise

A fact, proposition, or statement from which a conclusion is made

Conclusion

A statement or judgement that follows from one or more reasons

Premise Indicators

because

since

for

for example

for the reason that

in that

given that

as indicated by

due to

owing to

this can be seen from

we know this by

Conclusion Indicators

thus

therefore

hence

consequently

as a result

 so

accordingly

clearly

must be/shows that

follows/conclude that

for this reason

Primary Objective #2:

Additional Premise Indicators

Furthermore

Moreover

Besides

In addition

What's more

After all

Counter-premise Indicators

But                                  yet

        However                       On the other hand 

Admittedly                     In Contrast   

Although                      Even though

Still                            Whereas

In spite of                      Despite

After all                                      

Commonly used construction

A number (some, many, etc.) of people (critics, students, teachers, legislators, vegetarians, psychologists etc.) believe (claim, propose, argue, etc.) that...

Primary Objective #3:

If the stimulus contains an argument, determine whether the argument is strong or weak

Remember:

*Note that the strength of this argument is based solely on the degree to which the premises prove the conclusion. The truth of the premises themselves is not an issue in determing whether the argument is valid or invalid.

Primary Objective #4:

Read closely and know precisely what the author said. Do not generalize!

Quantity Indicators

all

every

most

many

some

several

few

sole

only

not all

none

Probability Indicator

must

will always

not always

probably

likely

would

not necessarily

could

rarely

never

First Question Family

based on the principle of using the information in the stimulus to prove that one of the answer choices must be true!

Members: First Question Family

Must be true

main point

point at issue

method of reasoning

flaw in the reasoning

parallel reasoning

Second Question Family

Assumption

Justify the Conclusion

Strengthen/Support

Resolve the Paradox

Members: Third Question Family

Weaken

Members: Fourth Question Family

Cannot be true