You are here: Home > AS Unit 2: Assessing and Developing Argument > Unit 2 Fundamentals > Elements of Arguments > Reasons

Important!

A new specification for Critical Thinking was introduced for first teaching in 2008 / 2009. Although the new course covers similar ground to the old, changes have been made, particularly to the structure of the AS units. The most significant change is that some content that was previously only in Unit 2 is now also in Unit 1, but please see OCR's guide to the changes for more detail.

This website remains available in the hope that its contents will still be useful, but if you choose to use it you must bear in mind that it no longer reflects the most recent version of the A-level Critical Thinking course.

Reasons

The reasons in an argument are the claims made in an attempt to persuade you that the conclusion is true.

The Because Test

A test that can help you to identify the reasons in a passage is the ‘because test’. Simply insert the word “because” into the passage directly before the phrase that you think is a reason. If the passage makes sense, then you’ve probably got the right section. If it doesn’t, then you haven’t.

Quote!

When you’re asked to identify the reasons in a passage, you must give direct quotations. You’re being asked to pick out a specific claims that the passage makes in attempting to prove its conclusion. If you give a rough paraphrase, then you risk changing the claim, resulting in inaccuracy in your answer and so losing you marks.