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Pre-thinking for Critical Reasoning
If I try and assess where most students go wrong while attempting CR questions then the major fault lies in the way we understand or paraphrase the question. The most important thing when attempting a Critical Reasoning question is “Pre-thinking” or “Paraphrasing” your version of the answer (strengthen, weaken, assumption )to the question. This is because critical “Reasoning” tests your reasoning skills not your problem solving skills. In problem solving, the student can immediately jump into the Answer choices and start eliminating options. Most students follow the same approach in verbal section especially in CR section. The student immediately jumps into the answer options after reading the argument and looks at Answer choices to eliminate incorrect options. The time taken to do the above (eliminating incorrect and finding the correct option) can be reduced by “para phrasing” your version of the answer What happens when you para-phrase an argument is that a student gains clarity as to what the question is asking and then the student is able to parse the argument clearly and correctly. And then take forward the question from that point onwards. How to paraphrase a question or your answer:
Before doing anything, read the question stem first. – on doing so , you immediately understand the direction the question wants you to take.
Now read the argument.
Pause for a moment after reading the argument. If you have ever played basketball, you know the important of “the pause and the jump” before the shoot.
In your own mind, create a picture or a narrative of the question. In other words, personalize the question and make it your own.
Now think of possible answers or in other words , paraphrase your version of the answer. And Voila! You are done.
