Rachel · Class 02 · September 19, 2026
Textual Undermine · Class Notes
- Identify the exact conclusion, including words such as unrelated.
- Predict what would make that conclusion less convincing.
- Keep the same variables and reject findings about a different relationship.
Movie reviews and box-office success
The claim links two variables: emotionality in written reviews and box-office success.
Show answer and reasoning
B. The claim says emotionality is unrelated to box-office success. A positive predictive relationship weakens that claim.
- A compares emotionality with star ratings, not box-office earnings.
- C gives a star-rating frequency without the relevant relationship.
- D relates star ratings to earnings, leaving emotionality untested.
Either a positive or a negative relationship would challenge “unrelated.” A relationship by itself does not prove that one variable causes the other.