Identifying and effectively analyzing arguments is fundamental to LSAT Logical Reasoning success.
It may feel daunting now, but with a little practice, you’ll start to see it’s not too hard. In this article, we’ll share techniques for breaking down complex arguments, distinguishing between strong and weak claims, and recognizing key elements like assumptions and indicators. Mastering these skills will improve your critical thinking skills, build on your ability to evaluate arguments, and boost your overall performance on the Law School Admission Test.
To identify and analyze arguments in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section, start by reading the argument carefully, sentence by sentence. Focus on understanding each statement, and feel free to reread whenever you don’t feel like you understand what’s going on.
Once you’re done reading the passage, identify the conclusion of the argument and the evidence that supports it.
Valid arguments are rare on the LSAT, and rarer yet in real life. You should go into every argument expecting it to be flawed, and on the hunt for what makes the argument flawed.
Lots of LSAT arguments are flawed because they’re missing key information. That missing information is called an assumption.
For example, look for the missing information in this argument: All cats are nocturnal because all cats are gray.
The author is trying to prove that all cats are nocturnal, that’s their conclusion. The author supports that conclusion by saying all cats are gray. Do you see what’s missing?
The argument assumes that all cats are gray, but without that information, we have no way of verifying whether or not all cats are indeed nocturnal.
It’s important to note that you have to assume the truth of the LSAT’s premises, but conclusions are fair games for skepticism. For instance, it’s fine to object to the example argument by saying that not all cats are nocturnal, or even better, that the evidence provided doesn’t prove all cats are nocturnal. However, you can’t object to the premise that all cats are gray.
To break down complex arguments in the LSAT Logical Reasoning section, focus on building the following three key Logical Reasoning skills:
Effective reading is more than just getting the gist. Take your time to understand each sentence in the argument.
For example, if you read, "If you go to the store, then you will cry," followed by "If you cry, then you will lose all your money," connect the ideas. You can conclude that "If you go to the store, then you will lose all your money." This careful reading helps you understand the argument better.
Inferences are facts that must be true, given the information provided. As you read, think about what the text really means, and connect related ideas. Be careful, though, to make valid inferences. You need to distinguish between what is definitely true and what might just be possible.
Every argument has at least two elements: premises (the supporting facts) and a conclusion (what the premises are trying to prove). Your job is to identify these parts and see if the premises sufficiently support the conclusion.
For example, read the following argument: "If you win the lottery, you will get $750 million. Therefore, if you win the lottery, you will be happy."
Is that a valid argument? Not even close. It’s missing something big. Can you imagine a scenario in which someone wins a 750 million dollar lottery, but isn’t happy? If it’s possible, for the conclusion to be false, it’s not a good argument.
So why is it a bad argument? Well, the conclusion is all about being happy, the the premise only says you’ll get 750 million dollars if you win the lottery. Is 750 million dollars enough to guarantee happiness? From the information given, we don’t know. This argument assumes that winning 750 million dollars will make you happy.
Breaking down arguments is all about identifying the gap between what the premises prove, and what the author thinks they prove (their conclusion). It’s your job to say, “Not so fast!”
