Logical Reasoning I

Question 1

Make sure to _____ the entire stimulus very carefully.

Answer 1

Read. Many questions will test your knowledge of small, seemingly nitpicky variations in phrasing, and reading carelessly is LSAT suicide.

Question 2

Premise Indicators

Answer 2

1. Because ***
2. Since ***
3. For
4. For Example
5. For the reason that
6. In that
7. Given that
8. As indicated by
9. Due to
10. Owing to
11. This can be seen from
12. We know this by

Question 3

Conclusion Indicators

Answer 3

1. Thus ***
2. Therefore ***
3. Hence
4. Consequently
5. As a result
6. So
7. Accordingly
8. Clearly
9. Must be that
10. Shows that
11. Conclude that
12. Follows that
13. For this reason

Question 4

If a conclusion is present…

Answer 4

you must identify the conclusion prior to proceeding on to the question stem.

Question 5

Additional Premise Indicators

Answer 5

1. Furthermore
2. Moreover
3. Besides
4. In addition
5. What’s more
6. After all

Question 6

Counter-Premise Indicators

Answer 6

1. But
2. Yet
3. However
4. On the other hand
5. Admittedly
6. In contrast
7. Although
8. Even though
9. Still
10. Whereas
11. In spite of
12. Despite
13. After all

Question 7

Inference vs. Assumption

Answer 7

Inference - something that must be true

Assumption - unstated premise

An inference is what follows from an argument whereas an assumption is what is taken for granted while making an argument.

Question 8

There are numerous examples of incorrect answers…

Answer 8

that attempt to capitalize on the meaning of a single word in the stimulus, and thus you must commit yourself to a careful examination of every word on the test.

Question 9

Prephasing

Answer 9

an answer involves quickly speculating on what you expect the correct answer to be.

Students who regularly prephase find that they’re more readily able to eliminate incorrect answer choices, and of course, many times their prephased answer is correct.

This process helps keep you alert and in touch with the elements of the problem.

Question 10

9 Primary Objectives

Answer 10

1. Argument or Fact Set?
2. If argument - determine conclusion, If fact - examine each fact
3. If argument - weak or strong?
4. Read closely and do not generalize
5. Identify question stem
6. Prephase
7. Read all answer choices
8. Contenders or Losers?
9. Only if all appear to be losers - re-evaluate

Question 11

2 Correct Answers: Must Be True Questions

Answer 11

1. Paraphrased answers - restate portion of stimulus in different terms - seem too obvious
2. Combination answers - combining two or more statements from the stimulus

Question 12

6 Incorrect Answers: Must Be True Questions

Answer 12

1. Could be true/Likely true
2. Exaggerated answers - too extreme usually
3. “New” information answers - often incorrect* - examine scope (narrow vs. broad)
4. The Shell Game *** - an idea is raised in the stimulus, and then a very similar idea appears in the answer choice, but the idea is changed just enough to incorrect
5. Opposite answer - don’t read carelessly
6. Reverse answer - beware of what modifiers are used (ex. most vs. always)