Critical Analysis Flashcards

Which of the following is the strongest counter-argument technique in critical writing?

Answer: Acknowledging the opposing view and then refuting it with evidence

Acknowledging and then refuting the opposition strengthens credibility and demonstrates thorough analysis.

A passage implies rather than states a conclusion directly. A reader who identifies this conclusion is performing:

Answer: Inferential reading

Inferential reading involves drawing conclusions that are suggested but not explicitly stated in the text.

A study finds that cities with more coffee shops have higher literacy rates. Which conclusion is best supported?

Answer: Literacy and coffee shop density are correlated but causation is unconfirmed

Correlation between two variables does not establish which, if either, causes the other.

Which of the following is the most reliable type of evidence for a factual argument?

Answer: Peer-reviewed experimental data

Peer-reviewed experimental data has been subjected to scrutiny by independent experts, making it the most reliable form of evidence.

An author uses the phrase 'some experts say' without naming them. This is a problem because:

Answer: The claim cannot be verified or the experts' credibility assessed

Unnamed experts cannot be evaluated for credibility, making the claim unverifiable.

A text presents an argument where the conclusion follows necessarily from true premises. This argument is best described as:

Answer: Deductive and valid

A deductively valid argument is one where, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of identifying the main argument's structure before evaluating it?

Answer: To map premises and conclusion so evaluation is based on the actual reasoning

Mapping an argument's structure clarifies what is being claimed and on what grounds, enabling accurate evaluation.