Question

Harry Trevalga: You and your publication have unfairly discriminated against my poems. I have submitted thirty poems in the last two years and you have not published any of them! It is all because I won the Fenner Poetry Award two years ago and your poetry editor thought she deserved it. Publisher: Ridiculous! Our editorial policy and practice is perfectly fair, since our poetry editor judges all submissions for publication without ever seeing the names of the poets, and hence cannot possibly have known who wrote your poems. The publisher makes which one of the following assumptions in replying to Trevalga's charges of unfair discrimination? (A) The poetry editor does not bear a grudge against Harry Trevalga for his winning the Fenner Poetry Award. (B) It is not unusual for poets to contribute many poems to the publisher's publication without ever having any accepted for publication. (C) The poetry editor cannot recognize the poems submitted by Harry Trevalga as his unless Trevalga's name is attached to them. (D) The poetry editor's decisions on which poems to publish are not based strictly on judgments of intrinsic merit. (E) Harry Trevalga submitted his poems to the publisher's publication under his pen name.

Short answer

(C) The poetry editor cannot recognize the poems submitted by Harry Trevalga as his unless Trevalga's name is attached to them.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

The core of the exercise is to determine which assumption the publisher makes in the reply to the accusation of unfair discrimination by Harry Trevalga. This involves reading both Harry's accusation and the publisher's response carefully to identify implicit assumptions.

Analyze the Publisher's Argument

The publisher claims fairness by stating that the poetry editor does not know the identity of the poets because the submissions are anonymous. This suggests the publisher assumes that the editor indeed cannot identify authors without seeing their names.

Evaluate Each Assumption

Let's evaluate each option provided as a potential assumption: - (A) suggests the editor holds no grudge against Trevalga, which is not directly connected to the argument of anonymity. - (B) claims it's common for poets to have many poems rejected, irrelevant to the anonymity claim. - (C) indicates the editor can't recognize Trevalga's poems without his name. This directly aligns with the publisher's argument of anonymity ensuring fairness. - (D) implies judgments are unrelated to merit, which contradicts the fairness claim. - (E) involves the use of a pen name, which does not directly address the anonymity aspect.

Select the Correct Assumption

Given the analysis, option (C) fits best as it directly pertains to the assumption that anonymity of the submissions prevents the editor from recognizing Trevalga’s poems. This supports the publisher’s claim of impartiality.

Key concepts

Understanding Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning is an essential skill to develop, as it helps us process information and make sound conclusions. In the context of LSAT problems like this one, logical reasoning involves identifying implicit assumptions and understanding arguments clearly. Knowing how to approach a problem involves:

• Identifying the main claim or accusation, as Harry Trevalga did regarding perceived unfair discrimination.
• Understanding the counterarguments, like the publisher's response claiming anonymity.
• Deducing the underlying assumptions supporting each claim, as shown in the exercise.

By improving logical reasoning, students can better navigate complex arguments and identify flaws or hidden premises effectively.

The Role of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is vital in evaluating arguments and assumptions. It requires a thoughtful analysis of claims to assess their validity. In this exercise, using critical thinking means:

• Analyzing the fairness of the editorial policy based on the information provided in the argument.
• Questioning the logic behind the publisher's claim of anonymity to evaluate its impact on perceived impartiality.
• Recognizing potential biases or oversights in Harry's perception of unfair discrimination.

By cultivating critical thinking, students learn how to dissect arguments methodically, leading to a well-rounded understanding of various viewpoints.

Effective Argument Analysis

Argument analysis is the process of systematically examining the elements of an argument to understand its strengths and weaknesses. When analyzing the argument from the exercise:

• Start by identifying the core argument presented by Harry and the publisher.
• Examine how each party supports their stance, focusing on evidence such as the anonymous submission policy.
• Use reasoned reflection to determine which assumptions are essential to these arguments, as we did with selecting option (C).

This approach helps in identifying logical gaps or unsupported claims, enabling a deeper comprehension of the issues at hand.

Insight into Editorial Policy

Understanding editorial policy is crucial for recognizing how publications maintain fairness and impartiality. In the given problem, the publisher emphasizes that submissions remain anonymous, which is part of their editorial policy to ensure objectivity. To further comprehend this:

• Learn about typical editorial processes in similar publishing environments.
• Determine how anonymity could potentially eliminate bias, both perceived and actual.
• Consider the implications of anonymity on a submitter's perceived fairness, as seen with Harry Trevalga.

This insight can aid in understanding how different policies aim to maintain fairness in decision-making, reflecting broader principles of equity and transparency.