assumptionAn idea accepted as a starting point for reasoning rather than established by that argument. It may be stated or left unstated.
You’ll leave with these skills
01Tell an opposing view apart from a limit the author puts on their own claimAsk whether the underlined sentence says what the author’s opponents think or adds “may” or “some” to narrow the author’s own point.
02Find the author’s real position after they admit the other side has a pointA sentence that starts with “admittedly” or “granted” gives the other side its point, and the sentence after “but” or “still” gives the author’s position.
03Name how an author answers a critic’s complaintRead the sentence after the critics’ complaint and check whether it calls their complaint a benefit or explains their evidence a different way.
04Describe a limited opinion without making it stronger, weaker, or neutralUnderline each “may,” “some,” or “only” in the author’s claim, and pick the choice that stays on the author’s side and is just as careful.
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40Reading
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