Must-Use Strategy for Critical Reasoning

by , May 26, 2010

Ive been speaking with students lately who arent entirely sure how to approach Critical Reasoning (CR) questions when a new one first pops up on the screen. In particular, a lot of students do one thing they shouldnt be doing: they read the argument too soon.

How can someone read the argument too soon?

It may seem kind of strange to say that someone reads the argument too soon. After all, isnt that the first thing we do on a CR question? Actually, reading the argument is not the first thing we should do. The first thing we should do is read the question stem.

Then, were ready to read the argument, right?

Not so fast! The question stem can tell us several things that will make it easier to do the rest of the problem. First, the question stem tells us what kind of question were about to do. Is this a Find the Assumption question? A Weaken the Conclusion question? Maybe its one of the Minor question types?

(Note: The categories I discuss in this article are all based on how ManhattanGMAT classifies different CR questions. Different companies will have different categories; it doesnt matter which companys categories you know, as long as you do know them!)

Second, some question stems provide additional information beyond the basic question. We can divide question stems into three basic categories:

1. Basic
2. Clue
3. Conclusion!

1. Basic Question Stems

A Basic question might say something like, The conclusion drawn above is based on the assumption that __________. This is a Find the Assumption question.

2. Clue Question Stems

A question stem may also provide additional information in the form of a clue that will help us to find the conclusion. A Clue question might say something like, Which of the following, if true, provides the best grounds to doubt that the presidents plan will succeed? Now, we know several things. Best grounds to doubt tells us that this is a Weaken the Conclusion question. The additional information tells us that the argument talks about a president and a plan that the president has and, more importantly, that presidents plan has something to do with the conclusion of the argument. Most likely, the presidents plan, whatever it is, is the conclusion. Now I know I should pay extra attention when the argument starts talking about the presidents plan.

3. Conclusion! Question Stems

A question stem can also contain the arguments conclusion. Sometimes, the conclusion will be repeated in the argument text and sometimes the conclusion will be contained only in the question stem. An example of this type might read, Which of the following, if true, best supports the presidents plan to reduce costs by switching to a cheaper raw material? Bingo! Now, not only do I know this is a Strengthen the Conclusion question, but I also know the conclusion, so I can start analyzing the argument the moment I start reading it.

Okay, Ive read the question stem. Ive identified the question type. Maybe Ive even found something out about the conclusion. Now its time to read the argument, right?

Maybe. We still have one more thing we should know how to do.

Know what youre about to do

Youre about to answer a certain kind of question. You should know what it is that you have to do in order to answer a question of that type. While studying, make sure you can answer these four questions about every CR question type:

1. What kind of information do I need to find for this CR question type?
2. What kind of analysis will I need to do on that information?
3. What characteristics should I expect of the right answer?
4. What characteristics should I expect of the wrong answers?

For example, if this is a Find the Assumption question, I know that an assumption is something that the author of the argument must believe to be true in order to draw that conclusion. (Note: I might disagree; I might think that assumption doesnt have to be true.) The assumption is something the arguments author must believe and the arguments author must believe that piece of info specifically in order to get from one of the arguments premises to the arguments conclusion. So, now I know that I need something the author must believe to be true specifically in order to tie together one of the premises with the conclusion; that answers questions 1 and 2, above.

Right answers on Find the Assumption questions will often be closely tied to the conclusion. They will not make the conclusion definitely true, but they may make the conclusion seem more valid or, at the least, it may be easier to understand why the author believes the conclusion is more valid. Right answers must bridge some gap between one of the given premises and the conclusion; it isnt enough just to address the conclusion. Finally, if the right answer is negated (if we say that assumption is not true or doesnt have to be true), then the authors conclusion should make a lot less sense.

The trickiest wrong answers will often address just a premise or just the conclusion, without bridging a gap between a premise and the conclusion. Wrong answers also may follow on from the conclusion, or talk about what would happen after the conclusion is accepted as valid. And, as always, some wrong answers may simply be out of scope, addressing something that isnt the point of the argument. If the wrong answer is negated (if we say the assumption is not true or doesnt have to be true), the authors conclusion shouldnt be affected much.

Take-aways

On all Critical Reasoning questions:

1. Read the question stem first. Identify the question type. If additional information is present, use it to help you find / know the conclusion as quickly and easily as possible.
2. Once youve identified the question type, quickly remind yourself of what you need to do on questions of this type. (If youve done the necessary studying, this should only take a few seconds.)
3. Anticipate. If there are certain traps you tend to fall into on questions of this type, know why you tend to make those mistakes and set up a process to help you avoid them.