Hello again!
We’re about to dive into a whole series on Reading Comp, and judging by the feedback I've been getting lately, the timing couldn’t be better. The problem with LSAT Reading Comp sections is that they are so, so boring.
Why can’t they be interesting? Well the honesty truth is they’re boring on purpose. When you become a hotshot lawyer, you’re going to have to read through hundreds of pages of technical documents. Being able to understand, and recall, this information is really important.
So, my first - and most important - tip for doing Reading Comp is that when the LSAT gives you lemons, you make that lemonade. You have to convince yourself that you’re all about what you’re reading and become invested in the subject matter. I don’t care if it’s voting practices from the 1930s or scientists studying poisonous frogs in the rainforest, you have to look at every passage like it matters to you.
Another thing you need to be able to do is identify viewpoints. There are a few different ways you might see things phrased, and knowing the structure can help.
For example:
People used to think X, but now they think Y
The old thought it replaced with a new one
In question form, that might read:
My friends used to think sushi was gross, but after actually trying it, they think it’s awesome.
Another option is opposing viewpoints:
One group believes X, while another believes Y.
Here’s another one of my patented ridiculous examples:
One group of people believe that burritos are the superior Mexican food, while other believe tacos to be the best.
Viewpoint 1 - Burrito Believers
Viewpoint 2 - Taco Truthers
Any arguments someone made for the burrito i.e. size and ability to be smothered in salsa, I would label “pro burrito” and any arguments that were made for the taco (like portability and variety of toppings), I would call “pro taco.”
It’s silly, but breaking down the passage into its core components really helps.
I go into a little more detail on this here --->
You can also check out the comments section, which almost always has some great nuggets of wisdom from by bright and engaging readers (that’s you!).
We’re going to get into all kinds of aspects of Reading Comprehension over the next few weeks, so if you have any specific questions, reach out to me and I’ll try to cover them in the future.
Talk soon!
Steve “Professor LSAT” Schwartz
Recommended Resources:
1. LSAT Courses
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2. Reading Comprehension 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. LSAT Vocabulary Builder
A handbook that guides you through confusing LSAT language, but not by forcing you to memorize hundreds of words. Instead, this comprehensive guide focuses on the LSAT's most commonly-used words and phrases and gives you their meanings on the LSAT.
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