assumption questions vs justify

[Salvi627]

Hi,

I think I just need a little reminder on the difference between justify and assumption questions. Can you only use the assumption negation technique on justify questions as well as assumption? I think I am getting confused because Justify and Assumption questions essentially appear to be doing the same thing... they are filling in some kind of empty information that is not present in the stimulus but is necessary in order for the conclusion to properly follow..

Also, in terms of the question stems for these two..what is the difference? I see that the justify question stems use sufficient terms, "if assumed" but assumption questions don't...but why not? Aren't those assumptions necessary in order for the conclusion to be true?

I really don't understand the difference!


Thanks,
Sophie Alvi

[Adam Tyson]

Assumption questions ask you what the author must believe in order to make his argument. It's all about what he didn't say, but what he must believe to be true. The assumption negation technique works because the author needed the assumption, and when you negate it his argument should fall apart.

Justify questions reverse the order - it's no longer the answer choice that must be true, but rather the answer, IF true, forces the conclusion to be true. The negation technique won't work here, so don't try it.

The stem on a Justify question will include language like "if assumed" and "allows the conclusion to be properly drawn" or "the conclusion follows logically", etc. Assumption stems are more like "the conclusion depends on which of the following assumptions".

An example may help: If I claim that my mother is a great cook, I am making an assumption that she knows how to prepare food that is edible. Does that prove she's great? Not by a long shot, but if the claim is true then that answer must be true as well. How do I justify that she's a great cook? What if I tell you my mother is Julia Child, or that she is the head chef at the top-ranked restaurant in the world, or some other extreme answer like those - would that do it? Sure, no question. Those would prove she is a great cook. Do I have to assume she is any of those things to make my claim? No. If those were true, though, they prove the claim is also true. See the difference?

I hope that helps! Good luck!