In today's episode, Shana and Trudel unpack weakening questions, and bust myths about why 'liking' an answer is never a good reason to select it, and why a 'blind review' is not a learning strategy and something to be used with caution. 

We'll consider weakening questions through the same lens as strengthening: Consider the case of a woman who sues a school system because she is rear-ended by a school bus on her way to work. After the accident, the woman has a back surgery totaling $200,000.00, so she sues the school system for damages. The underlying assumption of her argument is: “Because I was rear-ended by the school bus, I needed a $200,000.00 back surgery.” As her attorney, your job would be to prove that, more likely than not, the accident was the only cause of the surgery. You would have to strengthen the underlying assumption, and eliminate any other cause for the surgery.

However, as an attorney for the school system, your job would be to prove that something other than the accident cause the need for the back surgery. If you can prove that the back surgery was scheduled before the accident, that would weaken the assumption. 

We'll also tackle the following question along the way:

Harriet, a Kindergartener, was once given a bin of toys by her school teacher after the

more assertive children had wandered off. In her delight, she let out a series of loud

squeals. The other children returned and took the toys away. The next day, Harriet was

again alone and was given a single toy. This time, however, she didn’t make a sound.

Her teacher concluded that Harriet’s silence was a strategy to keep the other children

from her toys.

Which one of the following, if true, most accurately weakens Harriet’s teacher’s

conclusion?

(A) Children make delighted squeals only when their favorite items are available.

(B) Children make delighted squeals only when they encounter a sizable variety of

toys.

(C) Children frequently take items from other children merely to assert dominance.

(D) Even when they are alone, children often make noises that appear to be signals

to other children.

(E) Toys are a type of item for which all children in Harriet’s class show a decided

preference.

Hosted by Shana Ginsburg, Esq., CEO of Ginsburg Advanced Tutoring. This podcast is developed, edited and mixed by Shana Ginsburg. Music by Taha Ahmed.  

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