Thinking Skills study method

Evaluate a reason by checking its link to the conclusion.

A reason can be interesting, true or familiar without proving the point it is meant to support.

Use the link test

  1. Underline the conclusion: what is someone trying to show?
  2. Name the reason offered.
  3. Ask whether the reason makes the conclusion more likely, and how.

Worked example

Conclusion: The library should open thirty minutes earlier on Tuesdays.

Reason A: Many Year 6 students wait outside before their 8:30 am club begins. Reason B: The library has colourful new posters.

Reason A directly supports the proposed earlier opening because it describes a need at that time. Reason B may be true, but it does not explain why opening earlier would help.

A common error

Choosing a reason because it uses the same topic word as the conclusion. Instead, complete the sentence: “This supports the conclusion because …”. If the ending is unclear, the link may be weak.

Independent self-check

Try to replace the reason with an opposite fact. Would the conclusion lose support? If yes, the reason was doing useful work. If nothing changes, it was probably beside the point.

Use the method in practice

Reason and conclusion questions appear in Thinking Skills practice for NSW Selective and Opportunity Class. Start with the free test or explore all public methods in the study overview.