An online newspaper, Newspaper X, will hire exactly one new columnist: Candidate A or Candidate B. Both columnists currently write...

Phase 1: Owning the Dataset

Argument Analysis Table

Argument Structure

• Main conclusion: Newspaper X will hire either A or B based on three factors
• Supporting evidence: Specific performance metrics for each candidate
• Key assumption: Each candidate would have roughly the same hits on Newspaper X as on Newspaper Y
• Overall logical flow: Decision depends on which factors the newspaper values most

Phase 2: Question Analysis & Prethinking

Understanding What Each Part Asks

• Part 1: Which statement would most strongly suggest hiring Candidate A?
• Part 2: Which statement would most strongly suggest hiring Candidate B?
• Relationship: We need to find which valuation preferences would tip the scales toward each candidate

Prethinking Based on Question Type

This is asking for strengtheners - what would make each hiring decision more likely?

Specific Prethinking for Each Part

For Part 1 (Candidate A):

• Since both have equal influence, A's advantage is in hits via other websites (142,834 vs 113,742)
• A statement valuing external website hits over internal website hits would favor A

For Part 2 (Candidate B):

• Since both have equal influence, B's advantage is in hits via Newspaper Y website (93,847 vs 65,249)
• A statement valuing internal website hits over external website hits would favor B

Phase 3: Answer Choice Evaluation

Evaluating Each Choice

Choice 1: "The newspaper values the influence of its columns more than hits on them via the newspaper's website."

• Simple terms: Influence matters more than internal website hits
• For Part 1 (A): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
• For Part 2 (B): Doesn't help - both have equal influence

Choice 2: "The newspaper values the influence of its columns more than hits on them via other websites."

• Simple terms: Influence matters more than external website hits
• For Part 1 (A): Doesn't help - both have equal influence
• For Part 2 (B): Doesn't help - both have equal influence

Choice 3: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via its website more than hits on its columns via other websites."

• Simple terms: Internal website hits matter more than external hits
• For Part 1 (A): Weakens A's case (A is weaker on internal hits)
• For Part 2 (B): Strongly supports B (B excels at internal hits: 93,847 vs 65,249)

Choice 4: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via its website more than the influence of its columns."

• Simple terms: Internal website hits matter more than influence
• For Part 1 (A): Weakens A's case
• For Part 2 (B): Supports B, but less directly than Choice 3

Choice 5: "The newspaper values hits on its columns via other websites more than hits on its columns via its own website."

• Simple terms: External website hits matter more than internal hits
• For Part 1 (A): Strongly supports A (A excels at external hits: 142,834 vs 113,742)
• For Part 2 (B): Weakens B's case

The Correct Answers

• For Part 1 (Candidate A): Choice 5 - This directly emphasizes A's strongest metric
• For Part 2 (Candidate B): Choice 3 - This directly emphasizes B's strongest metric

Common Traps to Highlight

Choices 1 and 2 might seem relevant because they mention influence, but since both candidates have equal influence ratings, these choices don't differentiate between them.

Choice 4 might seem good for Part 2, but it's less direct than Choice 3. While it does favor B by emphasizing website hits, it unnecessarily brings influence into the comparison when Choice 3 makes the same point more cleanly by directly comparing the two types of hits.