Is CR more of a process of elimination?

torontogmat.com wrote:My opinion is a resounding NO!

Just as in SC, it helps a lot to prephrase possible solutions. This will help to avoid getting misled by the answer choices.

Once you get good at identifying the conclusion, evidence, and 'hole', or when there is no evidence, the link between cause and effect in the conclusion, it is not difficult to guess a few cases that would strengthen or weaken, or be required for the conclusion.

THEN, you can examine and eliminate answer choices. I use a checkmark in my answer grid for Yes, a small checkmark for 'sounds ok but I could imagine better', a small x for 'I don't like it but I'm not going to rule it out at this time', and a big X for 'no way'. (good habit for RC as well)

Just the other day a small checkmark won out vs. 4 X's, so in that sense I did answer by process of elimination. However, the small checkmark matched reasonably well one of my prephrases, and my student who hadn't yet learned this method missed it as a possibility because the relation was not obvious.

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In summary,

1) assess (the logic)
2) guess (possible solutions)
3) process (of elimination!)