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STATEMENT AND
ARGUMENT
TUTORIAL
By:RAHUL RITURAJ & VIVEK SINGH

2015
We work for humanity
not for money because
your happiness is our
happi ess
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STATEMENT AND ARGUMENT

In this type of question, a statement related to a political, social or economic issue is given
followed by two arguments. Generally, both the argument are contrary to each other. We have to
analyse the statement and the arguments and then decide which of the arguments hold strong.
HOW TO JUDGE WHETHER THE STRONG OR WEAK ARGUMENT ???
Step -1: PRELIMINARY SCREENING
STRONG ARGUMENT
UNIVERSAL ARGUMENT
ANALYZED ARGUMENT
EXPERIENCE ARGEMENT

WEAK ARGUMENT
AMBIGUOUS
SIMPLE INFORMATION
OPINION BASED
SUPERFLUOUS

Step-2: Whether result comes or not

Step-3: Test desirability of the result (+ve or ve result)
Step-4: Test whether the argument is properly related to statement or not.

STRONG ARGUMENT
1) UNIVERSAL TRUTH: If any argument is universally accepted that cannot be denied.
e.g. Computer is beneficial for us.
2) ANALYZED TRUTH: The decision taken by our govt., Supreme Court, constitutional
body, United Nations or any supreme authority is deemed as an analyzed truth.
3) EXPERIENCE: If any argument said on the basis of experience then it will be accepted.

WEAK ARGUMENT
1) AMBIGUOUS: The argument which is not clear in meaning and creats doubts or
confusion is taken as an ambiguous argument.
e.g. One should eat, drink freely because tomorrow one has to die.
2) SIMPLE INFORMATION: If any argument shows that the sentence is imitating or
copying anything then it cannot be accepted.

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e.g. Dhoni should taken retirement from cricket because most of the cricketer at his age
prefer to retire.
3) OPINION: If there is any personal suggestion, personal opinion, personal comment etc,
then such type of argument can never be accepted.
4) SUPERFLUOUS: Which cannot be accepted.
e.g. Import of foreign books should be banned.

KEY POINTS:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

The argument should be factual i.e based on facts and not on assumption.
The argument should be specific and not generalised.
There should not be any kind of ambiguity in the arguments.
The argument should be in conformity with the prevailing ideas and truth & should
support the current thinking of the majority.
If any argument or statement has the word ONLY, then it will never be a strong
argument because word ONLY gives the negativity.
The argument should not be just an opinion. It must answer one of the question-WHY,
HOW, WHAT Of the statement otherwise it is not an argument.
An argument also depends on the language used because by changing a few words, we
can make a weak argument forceful.
The argument must be judged as an argument and not with what somebody or
newspapers say.

In these type of questions a statement is given with two arguments and we are asked to tell
that out of two arguments how many support the statement or may be asked sometimes
that how many weakens the statement.
Those argument which support the statement are called strong argument
Those which weakens the statement are called weak argument
for example
STATEMENT
Internet is very usefull for finding information
Arguments
1.Students can use internet to gain knowledge.
2.Internet is waste of money.

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Question is asked in a way that which of the two arguments support the statement
so it should be 1 and not 2 because it is not in favour of statement but 1 is in favour of statement
EXAMPLE 2
read the following and tell that which statement given below is in favour of the paragraph
It is true that the green revolution has succeeded in transforming the Indian economy from a
situation of severe food shortage into one where the country has not only become self reliant in
food production but also has been able to generate a sizable surplus for export.However the high
doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which has been used under this conventional
farming technology (along with high yielding varieties of seeds and irrigation are now reversing
the trend and causing severe environmental and health hazard,including the contamination of
ground water.
questions
Which of the following would strengthen the authors argument?
Q1) India faced severe food shortage because the inception of green revolution.
Q2) Organic farming i.e. farming without the use of chemical fertilizers makes the food products
too expensive at retail level.
Q3) Many farmers have reported that the soil in their fields became infertile within five years of
switching over to chemical fertilizers.
Q4) Farmers not relying on the hybrid and high yielding variety of seeds as propagated by green
revolution do not make as much profit as the ones using methods of green revolution.
Q5) High yielding varieties of seeds as propagated by green revolution do not require much
water for irrigation purposes and are also resistant to pest attacks.
answer:
clearly statement 5 strengthen the the authors argument or is in favour of the paragraph.
Directions : The question given below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You
have to decide which of the arguments is a 'strong' argument and which is a 'weak' argument.
Statement : Should there be a world government?
Arguments : I. Yes, It will hep in eliminating tensions among the nations.
II. No. Then only the developed countries will dominate in the government.
(1) Only I is strong
(2) Only II is strong

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(3) either I or II is strong

(4) Neither I nor II is strong
(5) both I and II are strong
To answer this question, first of all we should determine whether an argument is strong or weak.
For this, each argument should be subjected to the following tests.
1.If an argument is ambiguous, it is a weak argument.
For example,
Statement : Should higher education be reserved for the deserving few?
Argument : Yes, It will minimise wastage in higher education.
2. If an argument is too simple, it is a weak argument. They are clearly related with the
statement. But due to lack of proper argumentation, they are considered as weak arguments.
Statement : Should all the remote parts of a country be connected by road ?
Argument : Yes, It must be done immediately.
This argument does not have any argumentative substance and so it is a weak argument.
3. If an argument simply supports or denies a given statement without giving a proper analysis, it
is a weak argument.
Statement : Should election expenses to central and state ligislatures be met by the government
?
Argument : No, It is not good in any country.
4. Arguments which consists of a question thrown back without any substance and argument is a
weak argument.
Statement : Should fashionable dresses be banned ?
Argument : Yes, Why not ?
5. If it is a scientifically established or universally acknowledge fact, it is a strong argument.
Otherwise it is weak.
Statement : Should religion be taught in our School ?
Argument : Yes, Teaching religion helps inculcate moral values among children?
This argument is a strong argument because it is an established fact.
6. A argument that promotes or prohibits on the basis of an example is a weak argument.
Statement : Should private sector be permitted to operate telephone services?
Argument : Yes, They are operated in advanced western countries.
This is a weak argument. Just because telephone services are operated in advanced western

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countries, it cannot be declared as pursuable.

7. If an argument has passed the above mentioned points, then we check the desirability of the
argument. For this, first of all, we check whether the arguer is right in saying that the course of
action will bring the given positive or negative consequence. Next, we check whether this
positive or negative conseqence is really benefitial or harmful.
Statement : Should non - vegetarian food be totally banned in our country ?
Argument : Yes, It is expensive and therefore beyond the means of most people in our country.
Logically this argument is probable because non - vegetarian food is expensive and therefore it is
beyond the means of most people in our country. But only for this reason, ban on non vegetarian
food is not desirable. So this argument is weak.
8. A statement and an argument are said to be properly related if the argument emphasises the
main issue involved. Also it should be a balanced option. That is really beneficial or harmful. If
they are properly related the argument is considered as a strong argument.
Statement : Should there be compulsory military training for all?
Argument : Yes, It will bring a sense of discipline in the people It is true that military training
will bring a sense of discipline in the people. But compulsory military training is too significant
an action to be taken simply for this reason.

Solved Examples:
1. Statement : Should luxury hotels be banned in India?
Argument : I, Yes, they are places from where international criminals operate.
II. No. Affluent foreign tourists will have no place to stay.
I is not strong because only by imposing a ban on luxury hotels, success of international
criminals can not be put to an end. But argument II is strong.
2. Statement : Should private sector be permitted to operate telephone services?
Argument : I. Yes, They are operated in advanced western coutries.
II. No. It is risky to put them in private hands.
Here both the arguments are weak. A policy cannot be followed in a developing country like
india, merely on the reason that telephone services are operated in advanced western countries. II
is not acceptable because permitting the private sector to operate telephone services may bring
out greater efficiency. Hence Both the arguments are weak.
Key points:

Strong arguments are those which are both important and directly related to the
statement.
Weak arguments are less important and indirectly related to statement.
And most important is to find out the argument is strong or weak.

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