LSAT Prep

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This week, I want to talk about soundness. So that's what I'm going to do. YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME, WORLD.

K. Got that out of my system. Let's do this:

Soundness, as a principle, is the simultaneous measure of two distinct aspects of a deductive argument: its coherence and its validity.  OK.  So what’re coherence and validity?  We’re glad you asked!

Remember our tow-chain from two weeks ago?  Let’s get that image back in our minds to continue.  Got it?  Excellent.

So, you’ve heard somewhere that the LSAT is a test that demands that you successfully weigh evidence against claims. OK, sure. But what does that mean? 

First, let’s establish some ground rules: 

As you get started with your LSAT prep (or somewhere in the middle of LSAT prep, or even if you’re already well into your LSAT prep. OK, let’s just say that at any point in your LSAT prep), one of the key things you’ll need to figure out is how to find the Main Point of a Reading Comp passage.

Well, that’s where this post comes in! I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve decided to write a few words on identifying the main point of passages, and you are now reading those words. IT’S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE ALIVE.

I’ll keep it short. I’ve been meaning to create a timeline to help you visualize how your LSAT prep should go. This week, after the end of the semester and before I start my summer job, seemed like the right time.

So I did. It’s above.

So, as part of our occasional LSAT prep series on Logical Reasoning question types, today we’re going to take a look at Point-of-Disagreement (+ Point of Agreement) questions.

First, note that these questions can only be associated with multi-party arguments, in which two distinct arguments are juxtaposed by the test writers. The arguers’ names will inevitably demonstrate a richness of ethnic diversity (which, given how opposed they are to each other’s ideas, demands an answer as to how the LSAT’s authors view the possibility for global harmony.). But I digress…

A few weeks ago, we discussed whether you ought to spend a little time assessing Reading Comprehension passage difficulty. That discussion also applies, in pretty much exactly the same way, to LSAT Games. You should assess difficulty! You shouldn’t spend much time doing it, though! And you should definitely not try comparing games in a section to each other.

I recently uploaded a new video to the site (it’s also on YouTube; right here), in which I explain the theoretical basis for smart LSAT prep. I thought you might also enjoy reading it, so I’ve written up what is basically a transcript.

What I want to do here is start by getting you ready in a big-picture, First Principle kind of way for the manner in which we’re going to move you from a place of unfamiliarity, discomfort (and perhaps also fear) to a place of confidence, assurance, and readiness.

So, you’re getting into your LSAT prep in a serious way. Like, you’re thinking of taking things to the next level; you may be ready to move in with your LSAT prep (and we all know that’s the fast track to either a messy breakup, or you and LSAT prep makin’ babies and gettin’ married). So you’re at the place where you’re ready to talk about Evaluation Questions. 

Now, if you’re not sure you’re that serious yet about LSAT prep? STOP READING. YOU MAY NOT BE READY FOR THIS JELLY.

For everybody remaining, OK, let’s do this.

So, last week we decided together that you ought to be paying attention to the relative difficulty of the passages in the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT.

Today, we’re going to briefly discuss how to do that. To make things simple, I’ve created a 4-star review system for you to use.