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

The Critical Thinking (Section 1) syllabus for Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) in full: 5 chapters, 18 topics and 38 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Critical Thinking (Section 1) flashcards with answers.

5Chapters
18Topics
38Sub-topics
51Flashcards

Critical Thinking (Section 1) syllabus: all 5 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  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. 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. 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. 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. 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

Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1) flashcards — 51 questions with 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.

  20. What is a 'definitional' or 'linking' assumption?

    An assumption that two terms in the argument refer to the same thing or that a term applies, bridging a vocabulary or category gap between a reason and the conclusion.

Show the other 31 Critical Thinking (Section 1) flashcards

  1. What is the difference between an assumption and an inference?

    An assumption is an unstated premise the argument depends on (taken for granted before the conclusion). An inference is a conclusion drawn from the stated information (a result that follows from it).

  2. What does a 'valid inference from a passage' question ask you to find?

    A statement that must be true, or is most strongly supported, given only the information in the passage—without adding outside knowledge or assumptions.

  3. What is the key rule when answering 'what can be reliably concluded' questions?

    Use only the information given; the answer must be fully supported by the text. Reject options that require extra assumptions, overstate the evidence, or introduce new information.

  4. How do you choose the 'best supported conclusion' among options?

    Select the option that the passage's evidence most directly and completely backs, without exaggeration or unsupported leaps. Prefer cautious, fully-evidenced claims over strong but partly-supported ones.

  5. Why are extreme words like 'all', 'never', 'always', 'only' often wrong in inference answers?

    Because they overstate what limited evidence can support. A passage rarely justifies absolute claims, so strongly-worded options usually go beyond the data and fail the 'must be true' test.

  6. What distinguishes a statement that 'follows' from one that 'does not follow'?

    A statement follows if it is logically entailed or strongly supported by the passage's claims; it does not follow if it requires additional assumptions, contradicts the text, or is merely consistent but unsupported.

  7. Define an 'informal fallacy'.

    An error in reasoning arising from the content or context of an argument (not its formal structure), where the premises do not properly support the conclusion despite appearing to.

  8. What is the 'ad hominem' fallacy?

    Attacking the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself, treating the speaker's character or circumstances as grounds to reject their claim.

  9. What is a 'straw man' fallacy?

    Misrepresenting or oversimplifying an opponent's position into a weaker version, then refuting that distorted version instead of the actual argument.

  10. What is the 'false dilemma' (false dichotomy) fallacy?

    Presenting only two options as if they were the only possibilities when other alternatives exist, forcing a choice between them.

  11. What is 'begging the question' (circular reasoning)?

    Assuming the truth of the conclusion within the premises, so the argument's reasons presuppose what they are meant to prove.

  12. What is the 'slippery slope' fallacy?

    Claiming that one step will inevitably lead to a chain of negative consequences without providing evidence that each step actually follows from the previous one.

  13. What is an 'appeal to authority' fallacy?

    Accepting a claim as true merely because an authority asserts it, especially when the authority is not a genuine expert on the matter or experts disagree.

  14. What is an 'appeal to popularity' (bandwagon) fallacy?

    Arguing that a claim is true or right simply because many people believe it or do it.

  15. What is the core error of 'post hoc ergo propter hoc'?

    Concluding that because event B followed event A, A must have caused B—mistaking temporal sequence (correlation in time) for causation.

  16. Why is 'correlation does not imply causation' central to causal reasoning?

    Two variables moving together may be linked by coincidence, reverse causation, or a common third (confounding) factor, so correlation alone cannot establish that one causes the other.

  17. What is 'reverse causation' as a causal reasoning error?

    Mistaking the direction of cause and effect: concluding A causes B when in fact B causes A (e.g., assuming illness causes a behaviour when the behaviour is a response to illness).

  18. What is a 'confounding variable' (third-cause) error?

    Overlooking a hidden third factor that independently causes both correlated variables, so the apparent link between them is not direct causation.

  19. What is the 'hasty generalisation' fallacy?

    Drawing a broad general conclusion from a sample that is too small, biased, or unrepresentative to justify it.

  20. What is an 'unrepresentative sample' error?

    Generalising from a sample that does not reflect the wider population (e.g., self-selected or skewed), so the conclusion about the whole group is unwarranted.

  21. What is the fallacy of 'composition'?

    Wrongly inferring that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole (e.g., each player is excellent, so the team must be excellent).

  22. What is the fallacy of 'division'?

    Wrongly inferring that what is true of the whole must be true of each part (e.g., the company is wealthy, so every employee must be wealthy).

  23. What is 'equivocation', a confusion-of-concepts error?

    Using a single word or phrase in two different senses within an argument, so the conclusion only appears to follow because of the shift in meaning.

  24. What is the difference between 'necessary' and 'sufficient' conditions?

    A necessary condition must hold for an outcome (without it, not the outcome). A sufficient condition guarantees the outcome (if it holds, the outcome holds). Confusing them is a common reasoning error.

  25. What does it mean to 'strengthen' an argument?

    To add information that makes the conclusion more likely to follow from the reasons—e.g., supporting a key assumption, ruling out an alternative explanation, or providing confirming evidence.

  26. Give two general ways to strengthen a causal argument.

    Rule out alternative causes/confounders, and show the effect appears when the cause is present and disappears when it is absent (or cite a controlled study confirming the link).

  27. What does it mean to 'weaken' an argument?

    To add information that makes the conclusion less likely to follow—e.g., attacking an assumption, offering a plausible alternative explanation, or providing a counterexample or contrary evidence.

  28. Give two general ways to weaken a causal argument.

    Present a plausible alternative cause or confounder, or show the correlation breaks down (the effect occurs without the cause, or the cause occurs without the effect), or that causation runs in reverse.

  29. What does a 'principle' or 'rule application' question test?

    Whether a stated general principle correctly applies to a specific case: you match the facts of the scenario against the conditions of the rule to judge whether the rule's outcome holds.

  30. What is 'parallel reasoning' in a TSA question?

    Identifying the option whose logical structure (pattern of premises and conclusion) matches that of the original argument, regardless of subject matter or topic.

  31. What is the method for answering a parallel reasoning question?

    Abstract the original argument into its logical form (e.g., 'All A are B; x is A; so x is B' or its flaw), then find the option sharing the same structure and, where relevant, the same flaw—ignoring surface content.

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

What is in the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1) syllabus?

Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1) is split into 5 chapters: Anatomy of an Argument, Identifying Assumptions, Drawing and Assessing Conclusions, Flaws and Reasoning Errors and Strengthening, Weakening and Parallel Reasoning. Together they contain 18 topics and 38 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1)?

5 chapters, containing 18 topics and 38 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Anatomy of an Argument, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Critical Thinking (Section 1)?

Yes — a 51-card Critical Thinking (Section 1) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.