Causation Flaws Using Negation Test

[ohthatpatrick]

Why are you negating all the answer choices? Wouldn't you only negate the assumption answer choices (to judge whether they are truly assumptions)?

I would only consider negating (A) and (C), since those are assumption answers.

For (B), (D), and (E), you just ask yourself, "Would this Weaken?"


Answers that start like this are accusing the author of making a certain Necessary Assumption
TAKES FOR GRANTED THAT ____
PRESUMES, W/O JUSTIFICATION THAT ___
ASSUMES, W/O WARRANT THAT ____
FAILS TO ESTABLISH THAT ____

Answers that start like this are bringing up a Potential Objection
FAILS TO CONSIDER THAT _____
IGNORES THE POSSIBILITY THAT ____
OVERLOOKS THE POSSIBILITY THAT ____
NEGLECTS THE POSSIBILITY THAT _____

Answers that sound like this are accusing the author making a certain Bad Move
CONCLUDES ___ ON THE BASIS OF ____
INFERS, FROM THE CLAIM THAT ____ , THAT _____
CONFUSES ___ WITH ____
TAKES FOR GRANTED THAT _____ BECAUSE _____

Your bigger takeaway from this problem should just be recognizing the classic Correlation vs. Causality template, and knowing that you're supposed to evaluate those arguments by asking:
1. Could there be some OTHER WAY to explain the correlation?
2. How PLAUSIBLE is the author's causal interpretation?

When LSAT tests the correlation vs. causality template, they frequently throw in a term shift (like "high educational levels" to "informed lifestyle choices") just to give people a distraction.