Foundation for necessary and sufficient assumption question Forum

[beantheshadow]

Hello everyone,

I am having trouble with the drilling of NA and SA, any tips on how to approach these types of question?

Thank you

[Judgeasaurus_Rex]

Hello everyone,

I am having trouble with the drilling of NA and SA, any tips on how to approach these types of question?

Thank you

Necessary assumption: negation test. You must negate each answer choice; switch it to its logical opposite. If the negation of the answer choices does not do anything, it is incorrect. If the negation of the answer choice wrecks the argument, it is correct.

Sufficient assumption: Map out all the conditions, the correct answer choice will be the missing link between the premise & conclusion. For instance:

If President Obama wakes up before 6AM, he is mad at John Boehner. Therefore, if President Obama wakes up before 6AM, President Obama will punch John Boehner.

The correct answer choice would be: If President Obama is mad at John Boehner, he will punch him.

[Manhattan Prep Matt]

If President Obama wakes up before 6AM, he is mad at John Boehner. Therefore, if President Obama wakes up before 6AM, President Obama will punch John Boehner.

The correct answer choice would be: If President Obama is mad at John Boehner, he will punch him.

Using this example, a "trick" for Sufficient Assumption is to look for a new term in the conclusion. That term (or a blanket term that includes it) must show up in the correct answer. So, for this one, you could eliminate any answer that doesn't involve punching Boehner.