Q20 - Some literary theorists argue that since

[christine.defenbaugh]

Question Type:
Determine the Function

Stimulus Breakdown:
CounterArg Premise: since lit works = exp of ideology
CounterArg Conclusion: naive to rate the distinct aesthetic value
Arg Premise: the peope making that argument rate interestingness and successfulness of works
Arg Conclusion: therefore, they succumb to what they want to undermine.

Answer Anticipation:
Paying attention to keywords, it's possible to sort out all four concepts without getting too hung up in the abstract concepts discussed here. "Since," "but," and "therefore" do a lot of signaling here. The claim we need to focus on is the argument premise, so the first pass should eliminate anything that's anything other than premise or that supports the counterargument / is against the main argument.

Correct answer:
D

Answer choice analysis:
(A) While this is evidence for a conclusion, the one expressed here is the counterargument's conclusion. No good!

(B) So tempting. This answer choice suggests the claim is evidence against the counterargument's conclusion. We need something that's evidence FOR the MAIN conclusion. In many arguments, that would be the same thing as evidence against that counterargument's conclusion - but here, the main argument premise is actually jumping onto a new idea, not just refuting the counterargument components.

(C) Autokill on "conclusion". The claim was evidence!

(D) No contest! This is evidence for the main argument conclusion. Exactly what we want.

(E) So tempting. This answer choice suggests the claim is evidence against the counterargument's premise. We need something that's evidence FOR the MAIN conclusion. In many arguments, that would be the same thing as evidence against that counterargument's premise - but here, the main argument premise is actually jumping onto a new idea, not just refuting the counterargument components.

Takeaway/Pattern:
One of the dangers on late section Function questions is arguments that are interesting, complex, and abstract. It would be so easy to get completed sucked in to the vortext of analyzing the merits of these arguments about literary theory. Unfortunately, all of that would be wasted effort. Applying a cold approach of 'label the components' reduces our mental overhead immensely.

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