How to Determine the main conclusion in an argument?

[jacklyn.neborak]

Hello,

I am prepping for the December exam. One of the areas that I continue to have a challenge with is determining a subsidary conclusion and then determining the main conclusion. Just wondering if anyone has any tips that can help.


Thanks

[shehadehr]

Hi, so I've found that what really works for me is this: when Im reading a stimulus and I feel like there are two conclusions, I use the "therefore" test, as explained in the book, I think chapter 2. In other words, if there are two sentences that both sound conclusion-ish, say sentence A and B, then I ask myself is it A therefore B or B therefore A, which one makes more sense. Sometimes I'll even notice that the order of the stimulus will be main conclusion, premise, subsidiary conclusion, so the last sentence actually ties into the first sentence, which is the author's opinion or main conclusion.

Hope this helps, I'm studying for the december test too!

[chike_eze]

On difficult main point Qs, this works most of the time..

If one conclusion is in the middle or top and the other is the last sentence preceeded by 'thus' then choose the former conclusion as the main C.

Of course if u you are deciding btwn a premise and sub conclusion then this wont work

Another one that works too (in conjunction with the therefore test) is asking the question "what is the author really trying to convince me of?"