Start here · the first lesson of Strong and weak arguments (I/II)
Strong and weak arguments (I/II)
Critical Reasoning / Verbal Reasoning · for IPMAT Indore, IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT
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The idea
A policy question ("Should X be done?") is followed by a Yes argument and a No argument. Mark each as strong or weak. A strong argument is important and directly linked to the question; a weak one is trivial, emotional, irrelevant, sweeping or merely copies others. JIPMAT 2024 had one; Rohtak sets them under "critical reasoning".
Textbook vs exam method
Textbook method
For each argument ask: (1) Is it about this question? (2) Does it give a reason, not just a feeling? (3) Is the reason important (health, safety, money, rights, efficiency) rather than minor (mood, habit, looks)? (4) Is it free of sweeping words that make it false?
Exam method
- Strip the argument to its reason. ("because X").
- Ask "So what?". if X is minor, it is weak.
- Flag slogans and copies. "youth are the future", "other countries do it", "people love it" → weak.
- Flag absolutes. "never", "always" → usually weak.
- Do not penalise a strong argument for having a counter-argument.