Logical Reasoning

PT127 · S2 · Q22 The writing styles in works

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The writing styles in works of high literary quality are not well suited to the avoidance of misinterpretation.

Apparent Paradox

The writing styles in works of high literary quality are not well suited to the avoidance of misinterpretation.

For this reason, the writing in judicial decisions, which are primarily intended as determinations of law, is rarely of high literary quality.

However, it is not uncommon to find writing of high literary quality in dissenting opinions, which are sometimes included in written decisions in cases heard by a panel of judges.

Evaluate

The reason why the writing in judicial decisions is rarely of high literary quality is that judicial decisions are intended as determinations of law. So to explain why dissenting opinions are sometimes of high literary quality, it would make sense to anticipate that dissenting opinions are not determinations of law.

22.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the statements above?

  1. It is not uncommon for

    Half Scope

    Without knowing that written decisions are primarily the work of a single judge, this answer does not provide a possible explanation.

    9% picked this

  2. Unlike literary works, legal opinions

    Irrelevant Relationship

    Without knowing whether writing of high literary quality can rely heavily on the use of technical terminology, this is not relevant to the argument. Furthermore, if such writing did rely on technical terminology, this would undermine one of the statement’s to be reconciled.

    8% picked this

  3. Correct

    The law is not to

    Why this is right

    This ensures that dissenting opinions are not intended for something for which the writing styles in works of high literary quality are not well suited.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    70% picked this

  4. Judges spend much more time

    Irrelevant Relationship

    How much time judges spend reading judicial decisions and works of high literary quality does not explain why legal decisions are rarely of high quality while the writing in dissenting opinions often is of such high quality.

    2% picked this

  5. Judicial decisions issued by panels

    Half Scope

    This only discusses legal decisions and so cannot explain the difference observed between legal decisions and dissenting opinions.

    12% picked this

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