strengthen/weaken questions

[Harman]

I have taken a couple timed LR section tests and I find that I am having difficulty with strengthen and weaken questions, and only those questions. I am currently getting -2 to -3 a section, primarily strengthen and weaken questions. I am trying to fix this to the best of my ability, I have reviewed the LR Bible and did the course book, but I don't seem to be improving and It's starting to get on my nerves. Perhaps because there is no specific technique such as the assumption negation, agree-disagree, etc. .

Have you encountered this before with any of your students? Any suggestions?

[Steve Stein]

Hi Harman,

That's a good question, and a lot of other students have difficulty with those questions as well. You brought up the Assumption Negation technique, which is so effective but applicable only in response to assumption questions. So what about strengthen and weaken questions? In the section on causal reasoning, we list the various ways that one could strengthen or weaken a causal argument, and I would recommend that you review that. More generally, I would suggest that you be absolutely certain to prephrase an answer before you even look at the choices for any given question. When I teach classes I have the students cover the answer choices with a piece of paper until we've had a chance to create an effective prephrase: here is the basic argument, so how might I strengthen or weaken it? It takes a bit of discipline to force yourself to stop to prephrase, rather than moving right on to the answer choices, but as you do this you will likely find that an effective prephrase will can make a lot of questions much easier to attack.

I hope that's helpful--please let me know--thanks!

~Steve

[Harman]

We were told to pre-phrase in the online course but the instructors didn't go as far as covering up the answer choices with piece of paper. Thanks for the tip. I'll try it out.

[Nicholas Bruno]

Hi Harman,

I think you are on the right track! I know its harder to prephrase for certain question types. I think the main thing I tell students on either strengthen or weaken questions is to focus on the conclusion. Then identify the premises supporting that conclusion. Once you do that, you can see where the argument needs to be strengthened/can be weakened. Basically, remember that the correct answer will strengthen/weaken the conclusion in some form--either directly or by weakening the premises used to support that conclusion.

I hope that helps!