LSAT Logical Reasoning
Flaw Mode of Analysis Pt. I correct answersWhen you have assumption style answer choices, apply the
V-P-C analysis. This means you're matching the verb, premise, and conclusion with the answer choice
and seeing if it's really taking place in the answer choice.
What's the most important consideration for a Necessary Assumption Question? correct
answersStrength of language is questionable; you almost always want to eliminate absolute claims.
Often times, correct answer choices are minimums; i.e. "at least some," "one or more," "some," "some
or all," etc.
What's the most important consideration for a Sufficient Assumption question? correct answersStrength
of language is positive; you almost always want a strong answer choice that guarantees the conclusion's
truth.
Think of each answer choice as a trigger that you are pulling. Does pulling that trigger make the
conclusion true? If so, it is the correct answer.
What's the most important consideration for a Must Be True question? correct answersDiagramming is
the best way to answer Must Be True questions. These virtually always involve conditional reasoning in
some way, so sketching out the conditional relationships and flow is an excellent way to determine
necessary conditions.
What's the most important consideration for a Most Strongly Supported question? correct
answersRemembering that the bar for correctness is NOT absoluteness.
Unlike Must Be True questions, these questions are more suggestive. Still, you have to do your best to
find some significant degree of support. While total provability is not needed, you do want an answer
choice that is very close to it.
,What's the most important consideration for a Resolve the Paradox question? correct answersThe
correct answer choice has to be active, not passive. Even when the answer is a fact, look for the action
within the fact. Ensure the action resolves.
What's the most important consideration for a Principle Support question? correct answersThink of the
correct answer choice as a glove; think of the conclusion as your hand. It has to fit well.
What makes the glove too tight? Usually too much specificity and strength of language (absoluteness).
What makes the glove too loose? Too much abstraction, too broad, straying from conclusion.
What's the most important consideration for an Apply the Principle question? correct
answersConditionality.
If principle says if X happens, Y should happen but the application OR answer choice says Y should not
happen, pay attention to conditionality.
For example, an answer choice may display mistaken reversal in saying X did not happen. That alone
does not mean Y should not happen, though.
What's the most important consideration for a Weaken question? correct answersAlternative
explanations.
The argument may say something is the case because of X. What if it is the case because of Y instead? A
correct answer choice may indicate this. Think, "If it's the case that it is Y, does this weaken the
argument?"
What's the most important consideration for a Strengthen question? correct answersWhat corroborates
the argument or makes it more likely?
A correct answer choice may pose a conditional statement. This is akin to saying, "If it's the case that..."
,What are the three most important considerations for the LR section? correct answersConclusions,
strength of language, and conditionality.
What's the most important consideration for Flaw questions? correct answersBeing cognizant of all
"cookie cutter" flaws (and the fact they can be mentioned in abstract language) AND an ability to match
the verb, premise, and conclusion of the answer choice with the stimulus.
What's the most important consideration for Role in Argument questions? correct answersArgument
structure and flow. First, you must be able to identify the conclusion. Then you must understand
relationships between premises and any potential intermediate conclusions. Use the therefore test to
determine what flows into what.
Remember that direct support means that, in a chain of A --> B --> C (with A being a premise, B being an
intermediate conclusion, and C being a main conclusion), A provides direct support for B, but not C. A
provides indirect support for C.
What's a useful way to answer Resolve the Paradox question? correct answersAsk, "If it's the case that..."
followed by the answer choice and determine if the action within the answer choice guarantees the
truth of the argument's claim.
What's a useful way to answer a Necessary Assumption question? correct answersAsk, "If this isn't true,
can the argument still be true?"
What's a useful way to answer a Sufficient Assumption question? correct answersAsk, "If it's the case
that..." followed by the answer choice and determine if the truth of the answer choice guarantees the
truth of the argument's conclusion.
What's the most important consideration for a Disagree question? correct answersIdentify the overlap.
What claims are the authors making? What claims are addressed or unaddressed by the other party?
Remember that claims can be indirectly addressed due to implication; be keen on this.
What's the most important consideration for an Agree question? correct answersIdentify the overlap.
What claims are the authors making? What claims are addressed or unaddressed by the other party?
, Eliminate the points that they disagree over.
What's the most important consideration for a Justify the Conclusion question? correct answersSimilar
to Principle Support, think of the correct answer as a glove that fits the hand (conclusion). It cannot be
too tight (strong language, overly specific) or too loose (abstract, strays from conclusion).
Ask, "If it's the case that..." followed by the answer choice and determine if it guarantees the truth of the
conclusion.
What's the most important consideration for a Parallel Flaw question? correct answersFirst, is the
answer choice flawed?
Second, does it share the type of flaw?
For stimuli with conditional reasoning, diagram both the stimulus and the answer choice.
What's the most important consideration for a Parallel question? correct answersDoes the answer choice
share the same style of reasoning?
If the stimulus involves conditional reasoning, you have to pay close attention to make sure structure
matches exactly. It is common to an answer choice to share the structure but to lay out the parts in a
different order.
What's the most important consideration for a Main Conclusion question? correct answersWhat is the
takeaway? In what direction are the pieces of the argument pointing? What supports what?
Main conclusion questions are distillations.
What's a very important consideration for harder Necessary Assumption questions? correct
answersHarder Necessary questions are not as formulaic. Ex. Stimulus may indicate that X depends on Y
and indicate that X will last forever. A necessary assumption would be something like "Y would never
