Argument Analysis: Strengthening and Weakening

Methods in this video

Tap a time to jump to where the video teaches that method.

1. 1

   Follow the plan: does it reach the goal?

   ▶ 0:43

   When to use it: Someone proposes an action (switch to soybean oil, ban zoos, stop learning facts, make every house install one) to reach a goal (save rainforests, protect animals, save time, save water); the question asks what most weakens it.

   • Write one line: what they want people to do → what for.
   • Imagine doing it: does the replacement have the same problem? Does it hurt what they care about? Does the new way still need the thing being dropped?
   • The option that makes the goal fail weakens most: if it can't get there, cross out the arrow.
2. 2

   Think of the comeback, then block it

   ▶ 4:02

   When to use it: A strengthen question (most strengthens) where there is an obvious comeback: the passage gives two explanations and he says one is better (Brazil: poverty / futsal), or he says a plan cannot work while common sense offers a way it could (wind farms: store the extra power).

   • In a strengthen question, first ask: how would someone argue back? (it's really another cause / there's a way it could work)
   • Then pick the option that blocks that comeback: the other cause is there but the result isn't, or that way doesn't work.
   • Just adding another example on his side can't tell the two explanations apart, so it doesn't count.