What is the main difference between Strengthen, PSA and, SA questions?

JoshMustStudy

Can someone please explain briefly the differences of these three LR question types and how we should approach each type? Just a brief, helpful, cheatsheet type of explanation would be great. Thanks!!

mrlsat180

The answer for an SA will make the argument perfect, the answer for PSA will make it nearly perfect, the answer for strengthen only needs to make the argument slightly better.

mjjohns6

-Strengthen question types will have some/weak support. The answer choice you chose will strengthen the argument just by a little and assumptions will still exist.
-PSA will make a decent argument almost perfect. "Just a little bit lacking – not exactly airtight."
-SA will make a decent argument PERFECT! No assumptions whatsoever.
You’re given the conclusion and all the premises (minus one). You’re asked to supply that missing premise which will make the argument valid.

mjjohns6

"PSA questions ask you to identify an assumption that is *almost* sufficient to conclude that the reasoning in the stimulus is valid. Alone, it can't take the argument to the point of complete validity, but it gets most of the way there."

J.Y. Ping

Great explanations everyone!

Just in case you need to review, this is the lesson that answers this question:
http://7sage.com/lesson/strengthen-psa-sa-questions/