Conclusions

Assessing Conclusions

FIRST, find the CONCLUSION Then, ask questions and define terms to determine the SCOPE (boundaries) of the argument - how strong/broad - what do the main words really mean - define pronoun and other references - Paraphrase the conclusion

Unstated Conclusion- Dialogue

when one person says "we must conclude that.." but then the second person points out a fact that they are not addressing/ something that counteracts the first persons conclusion

What are good questions to ask when assessing a conclusion?

who? what? when? where? how strong?

Weak/Vague Language

"some"- Not plural. "At Least One" If it is subjective, its weak and vauge

Strong/Broad Language

"specific" "Most" "All" 100%

Hence, Therefore, Thus and so

Assumption based question 33% in a MAIN POINT QUESTION that it identifies the conclusion and a 66% its a misdirection 95% when you see these words in an assumption and structure based questions, it identifies the conclusion

Directional Language (Supported by, Supports...)

Conclusion is supported by the fact that (Evidence) Evidence supports the fact that (Conclusion) "What supports what?"

Contrast words (However and but...)

Contrast Word with Stated Conclusion: "However,..." Contrast Word with unstated Conclusion: The TMs often use MPOV to obscure the APOV. The OPOV is often mentioned FIRST, followed by a CONTRAST WORD that introduces the Author's opinion about the OPOV *DONT FORGET*: this is an argument so the odds are very high that the Author will disagree with the OPOV. So, knowing the OPOV can be very helpful in finding the APOV Contrast Word with Other Conclusion ID (However, Since): Assumption Based Argument However....... Since.... (after since is the conclusion)

Chatty Language

Does not add substantive meaning. Rather, Chatty language adds Author Point of View in 2 forms: 1. Positive attitude (approval, enthusiasm) 2. Negative attitude (disapproval, skepticism) *The chattier, the more likely it is to ID the conclusion of the argument

What supports the conclusion?

Evidence

Conclusion Words

Hence Therefore Thus So Since Because After all for

The word "Know" and "Determined"

It is both Thought and Reality: VERY STRONG

Qualifiers

Narrow what is relevant- similar to adjectives

Superficial Language (Quite the contrary, I disagree, mistaken)

The TMs often use contrast words to introduce the APOV and the superficial conclusion Anti-Conclusion: a statement in an argument that the speaker simply concludes is wrong *WARNING*: Polar opposite is not the same as negating ~C situation

Argument Anatomy

conclusion evidence example intermediate C background counter conclusion (opposite) counterevidence (against) counterexample Extraneous BS

After all and For Construction

conclusion after all evidence conclusion for evidence All question types

Since and Because Construction

conclusion since/because evidence since evidence, conclusion 33% in a MAIN POINT QUESTION it identifies the conclusion and 66% its a misdirection 95% in assumption and structure based question it identifies the conclusion

Substance- No Conclusion Identifiers Strategy

eliminate unlikely candidates for the conclusion and compare your best two options, asking yourself which statement supports the other *This process is refered as the "What supports what? - not very common

The Question Stem Trumps All

the TMs sometimes use the question stem to direct the test-taker to the conclusion. If so, use this to override whatever the argument SEEMS to indicate what the conclusion is