Flaw

STEP 1
Identify the Question Stem
Look for language that asks you to find a problem in the reasoning:
  • "the argument is flawed because"
  • "the reasoning is vulnerable to which criticism"
  • "a flaw in the argument's reasoning"
  • "error in reasoning"
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STEP 2
Analyze the Stimulus
a Identify Premise(s) & Conclusion
What's the evidence and what's the author arguing?
b Core Argument
Simplified Premise
→
Conclusion
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STEP 3
Prediction
  • What's the gap? Why doesn't the premise support the conclusion?
Flaw questions are prediction-friendly. Unlike Strengthen & Weaken, prediction here helps a lot. If you can name the flaw before looking at the answers, you're very likely to find it.
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STEP 4
Answer Choice Strategy
1 Is the answer choice descriptively accurate?
Does every word in this answer choice match what the argument actually does? Check the noun, verb, and predicate.
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2 If accurate, is it actually a flaw?
Just because it describes the argument correctly doesn't mean it's identifying a problem. Is it pointing out a weakness?
✓ Correct answer: Descriptively accurate AND identifies a real flaw.
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