Critical Reasoning

There are two kinds of Assumption. Assumptions in a supporter role and in a defender role.

My doubt is that what is the difference between a assumption in a supporter role and strengthener.

For example,lets consider this simple argument :

All people of city X was allowed to vote. Hence Joe was allowed to vote.

Assumption : Joe was a resident of city X.

But If I am asked to strengthen this argument, my answer would be same. So does the assumption is a supporter role act in a same way as a strengthener ?

If this is true, then the true assumption will only be an assumption in a defender role.

I understand that in GMAT, one stimulus will be accompanied by only one question stem - so I think that this stimulus presented by me above would not be accompanied by the an assumption question and a strengthening question.

But its better if any one can explain me how these things work ?


All the terminologies used by me above are taken from Powerscore CR Bible.

Assumption is the necessary one.

Strengthen is unnecessary.

I received a PM on this one...

Here are some postings on how to approach assumption questions. I have taught the LSAT and the GMAT for many years. The LSAT has many very difficult assumption questions. I have never found it necessary to divide between so-called "supporter" and "defender" assumptions. Of course others certainly may find that these things work for them and that is great!!

But if this distinction is confusing you then you can choose to apply a different technique. You do not have to take what is offered if it does not work for you. I have some links below to postings where I discuss approaching assumption questions. Maybe what is below will work better for you. Either way remember it is your test and so you should choose the things that work for you.


https://www.beatthegmat.com/nuclear-powe ... 29-15.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/an-odd-cr-fr ... 68008.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/reduce-fatal ... 68915.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/computers-as ... tml#302237

https://www.beatthegmat.com/horses-hoove ... tml#289122

https://www.beatthegmat.com/nuclear-powe ... tml#296304

Thanks David.

Vidhya

I am not sure the difference between supporter and defender role, but one thing to keep in mind is
what are given;

All people of city X was allowed to vote. Hence Joe was allowed to vote.

premise: All people of city X was allowed to vote
conclusion: Hence Joe was allowed to vote

But nobody knows the conclusion is correct.

Now,the assumption question reads some where along these lines:
If the conclusion ( or above statements) are true, what is/are implied assumptions.
The key point to note is - its now given that conclusion is correct.
so "Joe was a resident of city X" is a assumption ( required for the conclusion to be true).


Now consider strengthen question:

premise: All people of city X was allowed to vote
conclusion: Hence Joe was allowed to vote

The strengthen question stem will be along these lines: which of the following statements strengthens the conclusion. So at this point conclusion "Hence Joe was allowed to vote" still not proven;

And a strengthen statement makes the conclusion more likely to be correct. Some times it be some times sufficient to prove the conclusion.
strengthen: last month Joe was a resident of City X; This strengthens the conclusion, because Joe may most likely resident of City X now;
But the statement "Joe is a resident of city X", not only strengthens but also sufficient to establish the conclusion.


--
OK. I have briefly read power CR and defenders are nothing but negations of weaken statements; There is no big difference in how to treat them;

Joe is not a resident of any other city; This is an assumption given the conclusion is correct.

This is also a strengthen statement if conclusion is not yet proven.

weaken statement could be: Joe is a resident of city Y;

avik.ch wrote:There are two kinds of Assumption. Assumptions in a supporter role and in a defender role.

My doubt is that what is the difference between a assumption in a supporter role and strengthener.

For example,lets consider this simple argument :

All people of city X was allowed to vote. Hence Joe was allowed to vote.

Assumption : Joe was a resident of city X.

But If I am asked to strengthen this argument, my answer would be same. So does the assumption is a supporter role act in a same way as a strengthener ?

If this is true, then the true assumption will only be an assumption in a defender role.

I understand that in GMAT, one stimulus will be accompanied by only one question stem - so I think that this stimulus presented by me above would not be accompanied by the an assumption question and a strengthening question.

But its better if any one can explain me how these things work ?


All the terminologies used by me above are taken from Powerscore CR Bible.