Approach strategies for each LSAT logical reasoning question type (assumption, strengthen, weaken, inference, parallel reasoning), distinct from the flaw-pattern deck.
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- When solving an assumption question, what are you finding?
- The hidden premise or intermediate step the argument depends on but does not state
- How do you use the negation test to check if an answer is a correct assumption?
- Negate the answer choice; if negating it breaks the argument's logic, then it is the correct assumption
- What is a sufficient assumption?
- An assumption where the argument only works IF this statement is true
- What is a necessary assumption?
- An assumption that must be true for the argument to work, even though the argument might work in other ways too
- What trap should you watch for when an answer choice supports only one premise?
- Confusing support for a single piece of evidence with an assumption the overall argument needs
- Where do gaps and logical jumps typically occur in arguments?
- Between the evidence presented and the conclusion being drawn from it
- In strengthen questions, what does it mean to strengthen an argument?
- To add new information that makes the conclusion more likely to be true
- What is a common trap in wrong strengthen answers?
- An answer that just restates or reiterates a premise already mentioned in the argument
- When looking for an answer that strengthens an argument, where should you focus?
- On the weakest link or the biggest logical jump in the reasoning
- Should a strengthen answer ever contradict or introduce counterevidence to the conclusion?
- No; strengthen answers must always support the direction of the argument
- What are methods you can use to strengthen an argument?
- Provide concrete examples, add relevant statistics, eliminate alternative explanations, or support hidden assumptions
- In weaken questions, what does it mean to weaken an argument?
- To add new information that makes the conclusion less likely to be true
- What trap should you avoid with answers that only disprove a single premise?
- Assuming that proving one premise false weakens the entire argument and conclusion
- How do you most effectively weaken an argument?
- Attack the logical mechanism connecting evidence to conclusion, or challenge a key hidden assumption
- Can weaken answers introduce entirely new information the argument never mentioned?
- Yes; new facts that undermine the conclusion are legitimate weaken answers