Logical Reasoning Summary for LSAT Geniuses:

Comprehension Family:
1. Must Be True (MBT): in this question type you are required to select the answer that is entirely supported by the information
presented in the vignette. The correct answer choice can be (1) a paraphrase of part of the vignette or it can be (2) a logical
deduction of one or more parts of the vignette. When selecting an answer, find the proof that supports your answer in the vignette.

Test makers will try to entice you by creating incorrect answer choices that could possibly occur or are likely to occur, but are not
certain to occur. AVOID these answers. Choose the answer that is clearly supported by what you read. DO NOT bring in
information from outside the vignette all the information you need is already in the vignette.


2. Most Strongly Supported (MSS): in this question type you are required the select the answer that is partially (or entirely)
supported by the information presented in the vignette. The correct answer COULD BE TRUE. When selecting an answer, find the
proof that supports your answer in the vignette.


3. Main Conclusion (MC): in this question type you are required to figure out the conclusion of the vignette. The conclusion is
usually stated and physically hidden within the vignette. Be careful, though many Main Conclusion questions feature a structure
that places the conclusion either in the beginning or in the middle of the vignette. Most students make the mistake of assuming that
the conclusion is the last sentence. Test makers will take advantage of this assumption so WATCH OUT!


4. Must Be False (MBF): in this question type you are required to identify the answer that CANNOT BE TRUE or is most
weakened by the information in the vignette. These questions are tricky because the concept of an answer choice being possibly
true and therefore wrong is counterintuitive. This question type appears infrequently, but they are definite time eaters. Mentally
prepare yourself to eliminate answers that could be true or that are possible, and select the one answer choice that must be false
(a.k.a. CANNOT BE TRUE or impossible to be true).




Method & Structure Family:
1. Method of Reasoning: these questions require you to pick the answer that best describes the structure and blueprint used by the
author to make the argument. Structurally speaking, these questions are simply abstract Must Be True questions however,
instead of identifying the facts of the argument, you must identify the logical organization of the argument (a.k.a. the structure and
blueprint of the vignette).


2. Matching Argument (Parallel): these questions make you identify the answer that contains the reasoning most similar in structure
to the reasoning in the vignette. This requires you to first identify the method of argumentation used by the author and then match
that reasoning to the reasoning presented in each answer choice. These questions can be quite time consuming (a fact known to
and exploited by the test makers).


3. Flaw: these questions are like the Method of Reasoning questions except that the reasoning is flawed. There are limited sets of
possible flaws (see list of 20 common fallacies). Beware of answers that describe a portion of the vignette but fail to identify the
error in the reasoning. The strategy is two-steps: (1) identify the flaw in reasoning made in the vignette; and then (2) pick the
answer choice that describes that flaw. The best way to get good at these question types is practice, practice, and practice. One of
the most difficult things about these questions is the LSAT lingo used in the answer choices.


4. Matching Argument Flaw: these questions require you to select the answer choice that contains the same pattern of flaw in the
vignette. Since Feb 1992 LSAT, whenever a matching argument (parallel) question contains a flaw, it is stated as such in the
question stem. The trick with these question types is to describe (in your own words) the pattern of reasoning in the vignette, and
then find that pattern in your head within the answer choices.


5. Point at Issue: these questions have two speakers who disagree about an issue that is generally ethical or decision-oriented in
nature, not factual. When doing these question types look for the correct answer by picking the answer which one person will say,
YES and the other person will say, NO to.




Impact of Additional Information Family:
1. Weaken: this question type requires you to choose the answer that undermines the authors argument. The vignette is almost
always an argument. FOCUS on the conclusion because usually this is what you will be weakening. The information in the
vignette is suspect so be super critical.


2. Strengthen: these questions ask you to find the answer choice that best supports the argument. The correct answer simply helps
the argument in some way. FOCUS on the conclusion because usually this is what you will be supporting/strengthening.


3. Resolve: these questions are easy to spot because of their distinctive vignette each vignette presents a situation where two ideas
or occurrences contradict each other. A couple peculiarities to keep in mind about these vignettes (1) there is no conclusion; and
(2) there is some language of contradiction (i.e., but, however, yet, although, paradoxically, surprisingly, etc.). Try to find the
resolution to the mysterious contradiction before moving onto the answer choices this will significantly speed up your
performance.


Hybrid Family:
1. Sufficient Assumption: these questions require you to select an answer choice that logically proves the conclusion of the
argument. The correct answer proves the conclusion by adding a piece of information to the premises that makes the reasoning
structure valid. The correct answer will strengthen the argument so well that the conclusion must follow from the combination of
the premises and the correct answer choice.

Premise(s) + Correct Answer = Conclusion


2. Necessary Assumption: these questions require you to select an answer choice that the author relies upon and is fully committed
to in the argument. The best approach is to first identify a hole (or flaw) in the vignette. The obvious truth that fills the hole is the
answer.

If you are stuck on these question types, use the negation strategy the correct answer when negated will CRUSH the conclusion.
But before you go about negating every single answer choice, I advise you to first eliminate the 2-3 dumb-and-dumber answer
choices, and then negate only what is left afterwards.