Method-AP Stimulus Structure

The stimuli that accompany Method-AP questions tend to be more complex
than the average LSAT stimulus. Some problems feature two conclusions (one
is the main conclusion, the other is a subsidiary conclusion), and often the
stimulus includes two different viewpoints or the use of counterpremises. Thus,
the ability to identify argument parts using indicator words is important.
As you know from the discussion in Chapter Two, the order in which the
conclusion and premises are presented is not relevant to the logical validity of
the argument. Still, many people have difficulty becoming accustomed to
arguments where the conclusion appears first, and we will discuss those
arguments in a moment. Regardless, a large number of Method-AP problems
feature the traditional formation with the conclusion at the end of the argument.
If you do see the main conclusion at the end of a Method-AP problem, be
prepared to answer a question about a part of the argument other than the
conclusion. The test makers do this because they know students are very good
at identifying the conclusion when it appears in the last sentence.
Please take a moment to complete the following problem:
1. It is well documented that people have positive responses to some words, such as “kind” and “wonderful,” and negative responses to others, such as “evil” and “nausea.” Recently, psychological experiments have revealed that people also have positive or negative responses to many nonsense words. This shows that people’s responses to words are conditioned not only by what the words mean, but also by how they sound.
The claim that people have positive or negative
responses to many nonsense words plays which one
of the following roles in the argument?
(A) It is a premise offered in support of the
conclusion that people have either a positive
or a negative response to any word.
(B) It is a conclusion for which the only support
provided is the claim that people’s responses
to words are conditioned both by what the
words mean and by how they sound.
(C) It is a generalization partially supported by the
claim that meaningful words can trigger
positive or negative responses in people.
(D) It is a premise offered in support of the
conclusion that people’s responses to words
are engendered not only by what the words
mean, but also by how they sound.
(E) It is a conclusion supported by the claim that
people’s responses under experimental
conditions are essentially different from their
responses in ordinary situations.
The argument is structured as follows:
Premise: It is well documented that people have positive responses to
some words, such as “kind” and “wonderful,” and negative
responses to others, such as “evil” and “nausea.”
Premise: Recently, psychological experiments have revealed that
people also have positive or negative responses to many
nonsense words.
Conclusion: This shows that people’s responses to words are conditioned
not only by what the words mean, but also by how they
sound.
Like many Method-AP arguments, the conclusion is in the final sentence and is
introduced by the conclusion indicator “this shows that.” As discussed earlier,
you should not expect to be asked about the conclusion if it appears in the last
sentence of a Method-AP question, and indeed the statement referenced in
question stem is clearly a premise used to support the conclusion. With this in
mind, we will examine the answers.
The first few words of each answer indicate the general role the statement is
claimed to play. Answer choices (B) and (E) both name the statement as a
conclusion, and both are unlikely to be correct. Answer choices (A) and (D) are
early Contenders, and answer choice (C) bears further analysis.
Answer choice (A): We know that the statement is a premise, so this is answer
is possibly correct based on the first line of the answer. But, the answer claims
the statement is used to support a conclusion that “people have either a positive
or a negative response to any word,” and that is not the conclusion of the
argument. Thus, although the answer starts out correctly describing the
statement, it finishes by incorrectly describing the statement. As we know, halfright,
half-wrong answers are always incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This answer is immediately eliminated since the statement
is not a conclusion. A further reading reveals that the answer also characterizes
the conclusion of the argument as a premise, another reason to dismiss this
answer.
Answer choice (C): Although the statement could probably be characterized as
a generalization, it is not one supported by the first premise. This answer tries to
claim the statement is a conclusion, whereas we know that the first two
statements are both separate premises.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer. We know the statement is a
premise designed to support the conclusion, and this answer choice describes
that role perfectly.
Answer choice (E): We know this answer is incorrect because it claims the
statement is a conclusion. The remainder of the answer choice would also cause
the answer to be eliminated since it describes a claim that does not occur in the
argument.
Method-AP questions often feature two conclusions—a main conclusion and
subsidiary conclusion—where the main conclusion is typically placed in the
first or second sentence, and the last sentence contains the subsidiary
conclusion. In addition, the subsidiary conclusion is often preceded by a
conclusion indicator such as “thus” or “therefore” while the main conclusion is
not prefaced by an indicator. This is an intentional stimulus formation designed
to trick many students into erroneously believing that the last sentence contains
the main point. Let’s take a look at an example.
Please take a moment to complete the following question:

2. Psychologist: The obligation to express gratitude cannot be fulfilled anonymously. However
much society may have changed over the centuries, human psychology is still driven primarily by personal interaction. Thus, the important social function of positively reinforcing those behaviors that have beneficial consequences for others can be served only if the benefactor knows the source of the gratitude.
Which one of the following most accurately
describes the role played in the psychologist’s
argument by the claim that the obligation to express
gratitude cannot be fulfilled anonymously?
(A) It is an illustration of a premise that is used to
support the argument’s conclusion.
(B) It is used to counter a consideration that might
be taken to undermine the argument’s
conclusion.
(C) It is used to support indirectly a claim that the
argument in turn uses to support directly the
conclusion.
(D) It is used to identify the social benefit with
which the argument is concerned.
(E) It is the conclusion that the argument is
intended to support.
The psychologist’s argument is structured as follows:
Premise: However much society may have changed over the
centuries, human psychology is still driven primarily by
personal interaction.
Subconclusion/ Thus, the important social function of positively
Premise: reinforcing those behaviors [of expressing gratitude] that
have beneficial consequences for others can be served
only if the benefactor knows the source of the gratitude.
Main conclusion: The obligation to express gratitude cannot be fulfilled
anonymously.
The statement referenced in the question stem is the main conclusion of the
argument, and as the answer choice correctly describes, the conclusion that the
argument is designed to support.
The argument, when considered in terms of order, is “out of order”:
First sentence = main conclusion
Second sentence = basic premise
Third sentence = subconclusion
The last sentence is a subconclusion, and in a Method-AP answer choice the
author can describe a subconclusion in a variety of ways:
subsidiary conclusion
secondary conclusion
intermediate conclusion
supporting conclusion
Note that as predicted, the main conclusion is not modified by a conclusion
indicator but the subconclusion is.
Answer choice (A): The statement in question is not an example of an idea
raised in a premise.
Answer choice (B): The answer choice describes a premise that is used to
defend the argument from attack. This would better describe the second
sentence of the argument.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice describes a premise supporting a
subconclusion. Again, this would better describe the second sentence of the
argument.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice better describes the last sentence.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer.
By consistently breaking down the structure of the argument before reading the
answer choices, these problems become very easy to solve.