GMAT Critical Reasoning Method/Flaw Jaime Smith

Agenda Quiz!  Begin Method of Reasoning/Flaw in the Reasoning Questions Critical Thinking Vocabulary Puzzle Review Resolve the Paradox Homework Homework

Review Homework Official GMAT Review (orange book)‏ Resolve the Paradox Questions: 59, 62, 92. 80, 98, and 18, if time.

Method of Reasoning Identify the logical organization of the argument. HOW did the author construct this argument? Use ONLY information in the stimulus to prove your answer choice. Any answer choice that describes an element or situation that is NOT in the stimulus is incorrect The stimulus can contain valid or invalid reasoning.

Method of Reasoning Sample question stems: “The method of the argument is to:” “The argument proceeds by:” “The argument derives its conclusion by:” “Which of the following describes the technique of reasoning used above?” “Which of the following is an argumentative strategy employed in the argument?” “The argument employs which one of the following reasoning techniques?”

Flaw in the Reasoning Similar to Method of Reasoning, BUT this time you know there is a problem in the stimulus. Use ONLY information in the stimulus to prove your answer choice. Any answer choice that describes an element or situation that is NOT in the stimulus is incorrect

Flaw in the Reasoning Sample question stems: “Which of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument's reasoning?” “The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that:” “The reasoning above if flawed because it fails to recognize that:” A questionable aspect of the reasoning above is that:”

Fact Test If an answer choice describes an event that did not occur in the stimulus, then that answer choice is incorrect. If you cannot identify part of an answer as having occurred in the stimulus, that answer is incorrect. Watch out for partially true answers.

Incorrect Answer Types New element answers Half right, half wrong answers Exaggerated answers Opposite answers Reverse answers

Sample Method Q Garbage in this neighborhood probably will not be collected until Thursday this week. Garbage is usually collected here on Wednesdays, and the garbage collectors in this city are extremely reliable. However, Monday was a public holiday, and after a public holiday that falls on a Monday, garbage throughout the city is supposed to be collected one day later than usual.

Sample Method Q What is the conclusion? Garbage in this neighborhood probably will not be collected until Thursday this week. Is the argument valid? Is the conclusion reasonable?

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by A) treating several pieces of irrelevant evidence as though they provide support for the conclusion. This answer assumes the argument is invalid.

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by B) indirectly establishing that one thing is likely to occur by directly ruling out all of the alternative possibilities Half-right, half-wrong. “one thing is likely to occur” - true “ruling out ALL of the alternative possibilities” - does the argument really rule out Friday, Saturday, Sunday, etc?

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by C) providing information that allows application of a general rule to a specific case. What is the general rule? What is the specific case?

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by D) generalizing about all actions of a certain kind on the basis of a description of one such action Reverse answer Also – language is too strong: “all”

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by E) treating something that is probable as though it were inevitable Exagerrated answer Conclusion says “garbage in this neighborhood PROBABLY will not be collected until Thursday this week” - not inevitable at all!

Sample Method Q The argument proceeds by C) providing information that allows application of a general rule to a specific case. CORRECT answer

Sample Flaw Q Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality. The most compelling pieces of evidence for this are those few of the numerous articles submitted by Cotrell that are superior, since Cotrell, who is incapable of writing an article that is better than average, must obviously have plagiarized superior ones. The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on which of the following grounds?

Sample Flaw Q What is the conclusion? Cotrell is, at best, able to write magazine articles of average quality. Is it valid? NO – it is a FLAW question. Why is it invalid? What is wrong with this argument? Circular reasoning. “This essay is the best because it is better than all the others.”

Sample Flaw Q A) It simply ignores the existence of potential counterevidence. B) It generalizes from atypical occurrences. C) It presupposes what it seeks to establish. D) It relies on the judgment of experts in a matter to which their expertise is irrelevant. E) It infers limits on ability from a few isolated lapses in performance.

Boldface Questions Similar to method of reasoning and parallel reasoning What is the structure of the argument? What roles do the boldface statements play?

Boldface Sample Editorial:  An arrest made by a Midville police officer is provisional until the officer has taken the suspect to the police station and the watch commander has officially approved the arrest.  Such approval is denied if the commander judges that the evidence on which the provisional arrest is based is insufficient.  A government efficiency expert has found that almost all provisional arrests meet standards for adequacy of evidence that watch commanders enforce. 

Boldface Sample The expert therefore recommends that the watch commander’s approval should no longer be required since the officers’ time spent obtaining approval is largely wasted.  This recommendation should be rejected as dangerous, however, since there is no assurance that the watch commanders’ standards will continue to be observed once approval is no longer required. 

Boldface Sample In the editorial, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles? A) The first is a recommendation made by the editorial; the second acknowledges a potential objection against that recommendation. B) The first is a proposal against which the editorial is directed; the second is a judgment reached by the editorial concerning that proposal.

Boldface Sample C) The first provides evidence in support of a recommendation that the editorial supports; the second is the conclusion reached by the editorial. D) The first is a position that the editorial challenges; the second is a judgment that was made in support of that challenged position. E) The first is a recommendation that the editorial questions; the second provides evidence against that recommendation.

Boldface Sample CORRECT ANSWER = B The first is a proposal against which the editorial is directed; (the watch commander’s approval should no longer be required) the second is a judgment reached by the editorial concerning that proposal. (This recommendation should be rejected as dangerous)

Homework Official GMAT Review (orange book)‏ Answer questions using the 9 steps. Method/Flaw in the Reasoning questions: 3, 17, 19, 29, 37, 52, 54, 64, 77, 79, 85, 86, 89, 97, 117, 124