In a parallel reasoning question, what is the essential first step?

• A. Identify the main conclusion.
• B. List all premises.
• C. Determine if the argument is flawed.
• D. Create a diagram of the argument.

Answer: (A)

In parallel reasoning, the key move is to identify the main conclusion first. Knowing what claim the argument is trying to establish lets you see the exact inferential path from premises to that claim, so you can compare that pattern to other arguments and find one that mirrors it. If you skip this step, you might focus on the wrong aspects of the premises or miss how the reasoning is supposed to flow. Tools like listing premises or diagramming can help later for comparison, and judging flaws isn’t the primary goal here. So the best starting point is to determine the conclusion.