LNAT Formulating Persuasive Arguments 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A politician says: 'Crime rates fell after we introduced Policy X. Therefore, Policy X reduced crime.' What logical error does this commit?
- Ad hominem
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Correct answer)
- Slippery slope
- False dichotomy
Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Post hoc ergo propter hoc assumes that because B followed A, A caused B, ignoring other possible explanations for the outcome.
Question 2: Which of the following best demonstrates the use of a 'limiting concession' in a persuasive argument?
- 'My opponent's position is entirely without merit.'
- 'While free speech is a fundamental right, it does not extend to incitement of violence.' (Correct answer)
- 'Everyone agrees that this policy is necessary.'
- 'History has always shown that this approach fails.'
Correct answer: 'While free speech is a fundamental right, it does not extend to incitement of violence.'
A limiting concession acknowledges the value of a competing principle while narrowing its application to prevent it from defeating your own argument.
Question 3: In persuasive legal writing, what is the purpose of a 'thesis paragraph'?
- To summarize all evidence without taking a position
- To present the history of the legal issue
- To state your central claim and the main reasons supporting it (Correct answer)
- To list all counterarguments to be addressed later
Correct answer: To state your central claim and the main reasons supporting it
A thesis paragraph declares your central position and signals the key supporting reasons, giving the reader a clear framework for evaluating the argument.
Question 4: Which of the following examples best illustrates an argument from analogy?
- 'Statistics show that countries with stricter gun laws have fewer gun deaths.'
- 'My opponent voted against the bill, so they support crime.'
- 'Regulating social media is like regulating a utility — both are essential public infrastructure.' (Correct answer)
- 'If we allow X, eventually we will allow Z.'
Correct answer: 'Regulating social media is like regulating a utility — both are essential public infrastructure.'
An argument from analogy draws on the similarities between two cases to argue that what holds for one should hold for the other.
Question 5: Which approach is MOST effective when the weight of empirical evidence contradicts your position in a persuasive essay?
- Ignore the contradictory evidence entirely
- Acknowledge the evidence, then argue it is outweighed by other considerations or has methodological limits (Correct answer)
- Claim the evidence is fabricated by your opponents
- Abandon your thesis and argue the opposing view
Correct answer: Acknowledge the evidence, then argue it is outweighed by other considerations or has methodological limits
Acknowledging and then contextualizing or qualifying contrary evidence is more credible and persuasive than pretending it does not exist.
Question 6: What is the 'burden of proof' principle in the context of argumentation?
- The obligation of courts to gather all available evidence
- The responsibility of the party making a claim to provide sufficient evidence for it (Correct answer)
- The requirement that arguments must include at least three pieces of evidence
- The rule that the conclusion must logically follow from the premises
Correct answer: The responsibility of the party making a claim to provide sufficient evidence for it
Burden of proof holds that whoever makes an assertion is responsible for providing evidence, rather than opponents being required to disprove it.
Question 7: A candidate's essay concludes: 'For these reasons, the evidence overwhelmingly supports abolishing tuition fees.' What persuasive function does the word 'overwhelmingly' serve?
- It introduces a new logical premise
- It quantifies the evidence precisely
- It intensifies the claim through emphasis to make the conclusion seem more certain (Correct answer)
- It defines the scope of the argument
Correct answer: It intensifies the claim through emphasis to make the conclusion seem more certain
'Overwhelmingly' is an intensifier that signals confidence and breadth in the conclusion, reinforcing the persuasive impact without adding new logical content.
LNAT Formulating Persuasive Arguments 4
A politician says: 'Crime rates fell after we introduced Policy X.
Therefore, Policy X reduced crime.' What logical error does this commit?