Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1) Syllabus

Critical Thinking (Section 1) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Critical Thinking (Section 1) in Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Anatomy of an Argument

   4 topics

   • Conclusions and reasons
     • Identifying the main conclusion
     • Distinguishing reasons (premises) from the conclusion
     • Intermediate conclusions in chained arguments
   • Argument indicators and structure
     • Conclusion and premise signal words
     • Mapping the flow of reasoning
   • Evidence and examples
     • Role of evidence in supporting a claim
     • Distinguishing illustration from justification
   • Counter-arguments and concessions
     • Recognising counter-positions within a passage
     • Identifying how an author responds to objections
2. 2

   Identifying Assumptions

   3 topics

   • Unstated assumptions
     • Recognising what must be true for the argument to work
     • The negation test for candidate assumptions
   • Bridging gaps in reasoning
     • Linking premise to conclusion with a missing claim
     • Distinguishing assumptions from stated reasons
   • Distinguishing assumption types
     • Necessary versus sufficient assumptions
     • Value assumptions versus factual assumptions
3. 3

   Drawing and Assessing Conclusions

   3 topics

   • Valid inference from a passage
     • What can reliably be concluded
     • Avoiding over-drawn or unsupported conclusions
   • Best supported conclusion
     • Weighing competing candidate conclusions
     • Matching conclusion strength to evidence strength
   • Statements that follow versus do not follow
     • Testing each option against the text only
     • Resisting outside knowledge and plausibility bias
4. 4

   Flaws and Reasoning Errors

   4 topics

   • Common informal fallacies
     • Ad hominem, straw man and appeal to authority
     • Slippery slope and false dilemma
     • Circular reasoning and begging the question
   • Causal reasoning errors
     • Correlation mistaken for causation
     • Post hoc reasoning and confusing cause with effect
   • Generalisation errors
     • Hasty generalisation from small samples
     • Unrepresentative or biased sampling
   • Confusion of concepts
     • Necessary versus sufficient conditions
     • Conflating correlation, possibility and certainty
5. 5

   Strengthening, Weakening and Parallel Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Strengthening an argument
     • Identifying evidence that supports the conclusion
     • Confirming an underlying assumption
   • Weakening an argument
     • Finding statements that undermine the conclusion
     • Attacking the link between reason and conclusion
   • Principle and rule application
     • Applying a stated principle to a new case
     • Identifying which principle a judgement relies on
   • Parallel reasoning
     • Matching the argument with the same structure
     • Matching the flaw in the same logical form

Critical Thinking (Section 1) flashcards for Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)

19 of 51 cards from the Critical Thinking (Section 1) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In a TSA argument, what is the 'conclusion'?

   The main claim the author is trying to get you to accept; the point the rest of the argument supports. It is what the reasons lead to, not the evidence itself.

2. In an argument, what are the 'reasons'?

   The statements (premises) offered as grounds or support for the conclusion. They answer the question 'Why should I believe the conclusion?'

3. What is a quick test to identify the conclusion of an argument?

   The 'Therefore test': insert 'therefore' before the candidate statement. If the other statements logically lead to it, it is the conclusion. Also ask 'What is the author trying to convince me of?'

4. Name three common conclusion (argument) indicator words.

   Therefore, thus, hence, so, consequently, it follows that, this shows/proves/suggests that. These typically precede the conclusion.

5. Name three common reason (premise) indicator words.

   Because, since, for, as, given that, on the grounds that, owing to the fact that. These typically precede a reason.

6. Where in a passage can the conclusion appear?

   Anywhere: at the end (most common), at the start, or in the middle. Position does not determine it; logical role does, so always test which statement is supported by the others.

7. What is the basic structure of a simple argument in TSA terms?

   Reason(s) + (intermediate conclusion) → main conclusion. Premises provide support that flows to the conclusion, sometimes via an intermediate conclusion that then acts as a reason for the main one.

8. What is an 'intermediate conclusion'?

   A claim that is both a conclusion (supported by earlier reasons) and a reason (it in turn supports the main conclusion). It sits in the middle of the chain of reasoning.

9. How does 'evidence' differ from a 'reason' in an argument?

   Evidence is factual data, statistics, examples or observations cited; a reason is the logical role those facts play in supporting the conclusion. Evidence is one common form of reason.

10. What is the role of an 'example' in an argument?

    An example illustrates or provides inductive support for a general claim. A single example can illustrate but rarely proves a general conclusion on its own.

11. What is a 'counter-argument' within a passage?

    An opposing argument or reason that goes against the author's conclusion, which the author raises in order to respond to or rebut it. It is not the author's own view.

12. What is a 'concession' in argumentation?

    A point the author admits to be true even though it appears to favour the opposing side, typically signalled by words like 'although', 'admittedly', 'while it is true that', before the author reasserts their position.

13. Name two words that typically signal a counter-argument or concession.

    Although, though, even though, while, admittedly, despite, granted that, it may be argued that. They flag a view the author will counter.

14. What word commonly follows a concession to reintroduce the author's main point?

    A contrast word such as 'but', 'however', 'nevertheless', 'yet', or 'still'. The author's true position usually comes after this word.

15. What is an 'unstated (implicit) assumption' in an argument?

    A claim that is not written in the passage but must be true for the reasoning to work; it is taken for granted as a hidden link between the reasons and the conclusion.

16. What is the standard test for whether something is a necessary assumption?

    The Negation Test: negate the candidate assumption. If the argument collapses or the conclusion no longer follows, it is a necessary assumption; if the argument survives, it is not.

17. What does it mean to 'bridge the gap' in reasoning?

    To supply the missing assumption that connects the stated reasons to the conclusion, so that the reasons actually entail or properly support the conclusion.

18. In identifying an assumption, why must the answer be something NOT stated in the passage?

    Because an assumption is by definition unstated; if a claim is explicitly written, it is a premise/reason, not an assumption. TSA assumption answers fill a gap the author left implicit.

19. Distinguish a 'necessary assumption' from a 'sufficient assumption'.

    A necessary assumption must be true for the argument to hold (its negation breaks the argument). A sufficient assumption, if added, would by itself guarantee the conclusion, but need not be required.

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