No, what I’m talking about is that during the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT, you’re going to come across strengthening questions, where you’re asked to support an assumption.
So how do you solve these? I’m glad you asked!
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Recognize that it's a Strengthen question.
Some strengthen question stems:
"Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?"
"Which of the following, if true, would most justify the conclusion?"
2. Look for the main flaw (if present).
It will make some unwarranted (and unstated) assumption - the missing (and weakest) link between premises/evidence and conclusion.
3. Support the assumption and scan for answer choice that helps patch up the argument.
After you find the central flaw of the argument, fix it. Bridge the gap between evidence and conclusion. The correct answer may protect the argument against the flaw by:
-denying an alternative possibility
-promoting the evidence's relevance to the conclusion
-supporting the evidence's validity (such as by saying a survey or study was properly conducted)
-providing additional evidence to support the conclusion
4. Remember that the answer choices can contain information not mentioned in the stimulus.
Why? Because the question stem says "if true," which allows the possibility of new information.
5. Remember that in "Strengthen EXCEPT" questions, 4 will strengthen the argument, and 1 will not.
The 1 that doesn't strengthen will either weaken or have no effect. In logic, the opposite of strengthen is "not strengthen.”
***
And that’s how you do it! Be sure to check out my article on solving the flip side of strengthening questions: 5 Steps To Solving Weaken Logical Reasoning Questions
Study strong,
LSAT-Strengthening Steve
P.S. In my next article, I’ll share the 7 questions you need to ask before writing your personal statement.
Recommended Resources:
1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.
2. Logical Reasoning Explanations
The explanations that should have come with the LSAT. These don't just fall back on "out of scope," but actually tell you why the wrong answers are wrong, why the right answers are right, and the easiest way to get the correct answer.
3. Logical Reasoning Cheat Sheet
Based on what I'd typically do in college: read what the professor emphasized and condense it all onto a single piece of paper. It gave me a quick reference, making things a lot less threatening and a lot more manageable.
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