Example:
I submit that the strikers should accept the management's offer. Admittedly,
it is less than what was demanded. But it does resolve the main grievance——
inadequate health care. Furthermore, an independent study shows that a wage
increase greater than 5% would leave the company unable to compete against J
apan and Germany, forcing itsintosbankruptcy.
The conclusion, “the strikers should accept the management's offer,” is stat
ed in the first sentence. Then “Admittedly” introduces a concession; namely,
that the offer was less than what was demanded. This weakens the speaker's
case, but it addresses a potential criticism of his position before it can b
e made. The last two sentences of the argument present more compelling reaso
ns to accept the offer and form the gist of the argument.
Following are some of the most common counter-premise indicators:
Counter-Premise Indicators
but despite
admittedly except
even though nonetheless
nevertheless although
however in spite of the fact
As you may have anticipated, the GMAT writers sometimes use counter-premises
to bait wrong answer-choices. Answer-choices that refer to counter-premises
are very tempting because they refer directly to the passage and they are i
n part true. But you must ask yourself “Is this the main point that the auth
or is trying to make?“ It may merely be a minor concession.
Logic II (Diagramming)
Most arguments are based on some variation of an if-then statement. However,
the if-then statement is often embedded in other equivalent structures. Dia
gramming brings out the superstructure and the underlying simplicity of argu
ments.
If-Then
A——>B
By now you should be well aware that if the premise of an if-then statement
is true then the conclusion must be true as well. This is the defining chara
cteristic of a conditional statement; it can be illustrated as follows: