Here is an example of a typical GMAT argument in a Critical Reasoning 1CR2 problem3 The expansion of the runways at the Bay City Airport will allow larger planes to use the airport. These new planes will create a lot of noise4 a nuisance for residents who live near the airport. However5 many of the residents in this neighborhood work in construction6 and the contract to expand the runways has been awarded to a local construction company. Thus7 the expansion of the runways will lead to an increased quality of life for the residents of this neighborhood. In order to solve CR problems effectively and efficiently8 you need to pay close attention to the specific information given for that problem9 while keeping in mind how to reason through a problem of that type. For every question10 begin by understanding what you are given11 What is this author actually arguing12 What are the pieces of this argument13 How do they fit together14 Think about these questions in relation to the argument above before you keep reading. On the GMAT15 1.16All arguments contain at least one Premise. A premise is information used by the author to support some claim or conclusion. That information may be a fact or an opinion. In the example above17 sentence 3 is a premise because it helps to support the author18s conclusion. 2.19Most 20though not all21 arguments contain a Conclusion22 the primary claim the author is trying to prove or the outcome of a plan that someone is proposing. In the runway expansion example23 sentence 4 is a conclusion. 3.24Many arguments 25though not all26 contain Background information27 which provides context to allow you to understand the basic situation. The information is true but does not either support or go against the conclusion. In the runway argument28 sentence 1 provides background. 4.29Some arguments contain a Counterpoint or counterpremise30a piece of information that goes against the author31s conclusion. In the example above32 sentence 2 represents a counterpoint because it goes against the author33s conclusion. 5.34Many arguments rely on at least one Assumption35something that is not stated in the argument but that the author must believe to be true in order to draw the given conclusion. Without the assumption36 the argument fails. By definition37 you will not be able to identify an assumption in the text of the argument because it is unstated. In the runway expansion argument38 one assumption is that the construction jobs are more important to quality of life than the nuisance and noise of the increase in flights. Collectively39 these categories represent the Building Blocks of an argument. How do you know which sentences fall into which categories40 Try to articulate your own thought process for the runway expansion argument41 then take a look at the decision process of this fictional student42 Argument Reader43s Thoughts The expansion of the runways at the Bay City Airport will allow larger planes to use the airport. Hmm. This is a fact. It could be a premise or it could just be background. I44m not sure yet. These new planes will create a lot of noise45 a nuisance for residents who live near the airport. Now they46re moving into claim territory. Something negative will come from this project. Why are they telling me this47 I can48t figure that out until I know the conclusion. However49 many of the residents in this neighborhood work in construction50 and the contract to expand the runways has been awarded to a local construction company. The word however indicates a contrast between sentences 2 and 3. What51s the contrast52 The noise is a negative consequence of the expansion53 while winning a work contract is a positive consequence. Looks like I54ve got a premise and a counterpoint in these two sentences55 but I don56t know which one is which yet. Thus57 the expansion of the runways will lead to an increased quality of life for the residents of this neighborhood. The word thus usually indicates a conclusion. Yes58 this does seem like a conclusion59this project will have a certain outcome 60better quality of life in this neighborhood6162 and I can now see how the previous two sentences fit into this conclusion. Sentence 3 is a premise because it provides one way in which the quality of life might be better for these people 63they might make more money6465 and sentence 2 is a counterpoint because it tells me a negative consequence. After reading the argument66 What is the author assuming67 The author presents a cost of the plan 68noise69 and a benefit 70construction jobs71. In order for the expansion to increase quality of life72 the author assumes that the benefit outweighs the cost. Notice how many times the reader thought73 74I75m not sure yet76 77or something along those lines78. That will happen frequently while reading an argument. You79re gathering information and trying to understand what each piece might be80 but you won81t really know how everything fits together until you know what the conclusion is82and that might not be until the end of the argument. Here83s the argument again84 with each sentence labeled85 The Core The premise 86or premises87 and conclusion represent the Core of the argument. Remember that not all arguments will have a conclusion88 but all will have at least one premise89 so you will always have at least a partial core. The core represents what the author is trying to tell you or prove to you. In this problem90 the core consists of these two pieces91

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