Basic Approach : Critical Reasoning

Basic Approach

Follow the below given basic approach for all critical reasoning questions.

1> Identify the question

The question can be of any of the below given types:

Assumption, Weaken, Strengthen, Identify the reasoning, Inference, Resolve/ Explain, Evaluate the argument, Parallel the reasoning

2> Work the argument(by finding the conclusion, premises and gap)

Common conclusion indicators words are

Therefore, Clearly, Thus, So, Hence, Consequently, In Conclusion.

Common premises indicator words are

Since, Because, As a result of, Suppose

The why test:

Once you have found the conclusion, ask yourself why the author believes the conclusion to be true. The premises should provice the answer to the question. if you try the why test and the answer does not make sense, you have probabily reversed the conclusion and premises.

Finding Gap

Identify the flaws in an argument by looking for a gap between the conclusion and premises. Find the gap by determining what is mentioned in the conclusion that was not mentioned in the premises. The assumption is the instated part of the argument that is required to connect the premises to the conclusion.

The types of flaws are:

- Causal flaw

- Sampling and statistical flaws

- Analogy flaws

3> Predict what the answer should be

Think about the gap, and state the assumption is your own word. As you know the type of question, think of the link between these two information to find the suitable answer.

4> Use POE to find the answer

Eliminate answer choices that are irrelevant or go too far.