You now have the tools to listen for arguments, climb the Ladder of Inference, and even strengthen someone else's position with steel-manning. Let's put it all together in a workout to hone your argument analysis skills.

Engagement Message

Ready to begin?

Type

Sort Into Boxes

Practice Question

A manager says, "We need to invest in new training. Our team's performance metrics are down, and two key employees have left, citing a lack of growth opportunities." Sort the components of this argument.

Labels

• First Box Label: Premise
• Second Box Label: Conclusion

First Box Items

• Performance metrics are down
• Employees left
• Lack of growth cited

Second Box Items

• Invest in new training

Type

Swipe Left or Right

Practice Question

Your colleague argues, "We should switch to a four-day work week to improve work-life balance." Are the following responses examples of straw-manning or steel-manning? Swipe left or right.

Labels

• Left Label: Straw-Man
• Right Label: Steel-Man

Left Label Items

• So you're saying we should just work less and get paid the same?
• You just want a three-day weekend every week.
• This would never work for our client-facing roles.

Right Label Items

• So you're arguing the benefit of improved morale would outweigh any scheduling challenges?
• You might also add that studies show productivity can increase with a compressed schedule.
• Is your main point about employee retention or overall well-being?

Type

Multiple Choice

Practice Question

A team member suggests, "We should stop our daily stand-up meetings because they interrupt our focus." Which response is the best example of the "Improve" step in steel-manning?

A. "So you're saying the meetings are a waste of time?" B. "When you say they interrupt focus, do you mean for the whole day or just the morning?" C. "That's a terrible idea; we need those meetings for alignment." D. "You could also argue that asynchronous updates in chat could achieve the same goal with less disruption. Is that part of your thinking?"

Suggested Answers

• A
• B
• C
• D - Correct

Type

Fill In The Blanks

Markdown With Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the steel-manning protocol.

First, you [[blank:repeat]] their argument in your own words. Second, you [[blank:clarify]] any ambiguities. Third, you try to [[blank:improve]] their case with better evidence. Finally, you [[blank:confirm]] that you've captured their view correctly.

Suggested Answers

• repeat
• clarify
• improve
• confirm

Type

Multiple Choice

Practice Question

In the argument "We should switch to the new software because our current one is slow," the statement "Our current one is slow" is a premise. What rung of the Ladder of Inference does this premise likely represent?

A. A conclusion based on unstated assumptions and interpretations. B. Observable data, like a specific loading time. C. A belief that has no factual basis. D. An action taken based on a belief.

Suggested Answers

• A - Correct
• B
• C
• D