I always just come back to the actual definitions of the terms... "necessary" aka "needed"--ask yourself if the thing you're reading NEEDS to be true in order to reach the conclusion given. "Sufficient" aka "enough." Is the thing you're reading ENOUGH on its own to reach the conclusion given? (while staying in the form of the argument you're give)
ex. Cat -> meow. (if something is a cat, it can meow)
Status "cat" is ENOUGH (suff) to know that it can meow, but "can meow" is NOT ENOUGH to know it's a cat.
Status "cat" cannot possibly be true if "meow" is not true, per form above, therefore "meow" is NEEDED (nec) in order to be a cat.
I didn't realize how to check this earlier and thought this post didn't have any responses originally - sorry! I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your advice!! It is really helpful and appreciated.
Sufficient assumption: if assumed, which allows conclusion to be properly concluded?
Necessary assumption: which of the following is an assumption in which the argument relies?
One of them is a strong, adequate assumption to fill the gap (sufficient). The other, is just an assumption on which the argument rests on, if it is taken argument is destroyed (necessary/required).
sufficient assumption questions all have if in them. Necessary assumption questions will have words like required, depends, or relies.
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7 comments
I always just come back to the actual definitions of the terms... "necessary" aka "needed"--ask yourself if the thing you're reading NEEDS to be true in order to reach the conclusion given. "Sufficient" aka "enough." Is the thing you're reading ENOUGH on its own to reach the conclusion given? (while staying in the form of the argument you're give)
ex. Cat -> meow. (if something is a cat, it can meow)
Status "cat" is ENOUGH (suff) to know that it can meow, but "can meow" is NOT ENOUGH to know it's a cat.
Status "cat" cannot possibly be true if "meow" is not true, per form above, therefore "meow" is NEEDED (nec) in order to be a cat.
I didn't realize how to check this earlier and thought this post didn't have any responses originally - sorry! I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your advice!! It is really helpful and appreciated.
Sufficient assumption: if assumed, which allows conclusion to be properly concluded?
Necessary assumption: which of the following is an assumption in which the argument relies?
One of them is a strong, adequate assumption to fill the gap (sufficient). The other, is just an assumption on which the argument rests on, if it is taken argument is destroyed (necessary/required).
Hi there’s a flash card drill in the syllabus on recognizing questions stems. Highly recommend.
Admin Note: https://classic.7sage.com/lesson/logical-reasoning-question-stems-first-half-flashcards/
@fincobb497 said:
sufficient assumption questions all have if in them. Necessary assumption questions will have words like required, depends, or relies.
SA questions don't always present "if". An assumption question with "if" is sufficient to show it represents a SA question but it isn't necessary
Necessary assumption: (STRENGTHEN THE CONCLUSION)
Wording/How to Spot
• of question
◦ "required"
◦ "rely"
◦ "depend"
• of stimulus "then", Only, only if, only when, only where, always, must
◦ Ex: You must eat to live
• Live --> eat
How to Tackle
• Find an assumption that needs to be true for the conclusion to be true/argument to work
• Answer needs to be true for support/ to prove conclusion
Correct Answers
• Essential to argument
• Connect evidence to conclusion
• Rule out obstacles/alternatives
• Pass negation test
Trap Answers
• Helpful but not important
◦ Support or fix the argument (sufficient assumption)
• Contradicts conclusion
• Too strongly worded given the argument's scope
SUFFICIENT ASSUMPTION: (FIX THE REASONING)
Wording/How to Spot
• In question
◦ "follows logically"
◦ "Enables" + "properly drawn"
◦ Assumption: "if" or "assumes"
• In stimulus
◦ if, when, where, all, the only, any, every time, anyone, whenever
• If you are a Jedi then you use the force
▪ Being a Jedi is enough to use to force
• Passage relationship:
◦ Chain of premises linking together: answer is the missing link
Fill the hole
• Identify flaw or gap between premise and conclusion
• Fix the reasoning of argument to make it valid
• Make argument air tight
• What is wrong vs. how to fix it
• Answer can:
◦ Provide new info that helps conclusion
◦ Have a strong tone
Trap answers
• Strengthen argument
◦ Provides argument with something it needs without making argument valid
• Nothing to do with argument
◦ Match subject matter but don’t provide missing connection
◦ Unrelated to conclusion
◦ Unrelated to reasoning
• Restates premises
• Brings new information
sufficient assumption questions all have if in them. Necessary assumption questions will have words like required, depends, or relies.