LSAT Short Argument Q Type Categories (4 cats, 18 q types) + Breakfast mnemonics, Tasks and Attitudes

Question 1

Short Argument - Assumption Based Questions (8 types)

Answer 1

Tasks:

1. Always ID Conclusion First
2. ID the Target Evidence
3. Find missing link between Evidence and Conclusion

Attitude:
Do not trust author’s logical connection between evid and conclusion
Question validity of conclusion
Trust Evidence as truth

Assumption Sufficient SUF
Assumption Necessary NEC
Strengthen STN
Weaken WKN
Flaw FL
Evaluate EVAL
Parallel Flaw LLF
Reasoning Conforms RCON

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Question 2

Short Argument - Inference Based Questions (3 types)

Answer 2

Tasks:

1. Assess Facts
2. Do not ID conclusion or evidence

Attitude:
Trust the truth of the author’s statements
Do not question the validity of the author’s stmts and do not critique argument

Point at Issue PAI
Inference INF
Guided Inference GI

PIG

Question 3

Short Argument - Structure Based Questions (4 types)

Answer 3

Tasks (identifying components of argument)

1. Always ID Conclusion First
2. Depends on specific qtype

Attitude:
Do not question the validity of the author’s stmts
Do not try to critique argument

Main Point MP
Method of Argument METH
Function FUN
Parallel Reasoning LL

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Question 4

Short Argument - Situational Questions (3 types)

Answer 4

Tasks (identifying components of situation)
Attitude:
This is not really an argument, it’s a fact pattern that may or may not make sense
Do not question validity of the author’s stmts
Do not try to critique argument

Paradox DOX
Principle Above PA
Situation Conforms SCON

Please Prepare Sausage

Question 5

What types of question stems indicate you should ID Conclusion first?

Answer 5

Assumption Based and Structure

Question 6

I get confused by Parallel Flaw, Parallel Reasoning, Reasoning Conforms, Method of Argument, Situation Conforms, and Principle Above

Answer 6

Parallel Reasoning does not require that you get the assumption out, and SitCon does not even follow an E to C format. So for LLR and SitCon you don’t do a full argument analysis.

Think of Parallel as meaning nearly exactly the same. Sometimes these Qs will say “most similar” in place of “parallel” but still they are PR. Key - Distinct Elements.

Think of Conforms as being a bit less close than parallel – slightly more or slightly less. “Conforms” will be in the Q stem for Rcon and SitCon.

Think of Reasoning as being synonymous with Argument, it’s not as important a distinction as Conforms vs Parallel

Think of Flaw as the Evidence and Conclusion analyzed in an argument analysis, with assumption and assumption flaw deduced.

Think of Situation as a “lite” argument that does not have proper Evidence and Conclusion, but background and result.

Think of Method of Argument as Parallel Reasoning, but more general terms and not needing Distinctive Elements to match like Parallel Reasoning and Parallel Flaw do

Principle Above involves a principle that is either illustrated in the Arg and stated in the AC, or stated in the Arg and illustrated in the AC

**How closely must the Distinctive Elements match? Note that a Parallel Reasoning correct AC will look for pretty strict matching (e.g. 51% word in Arg Evidence needs 51% counterpart in AC Evidence) between the Distinctive Elements evidence and conclusion in AC and argument. It is focusing on the Reasoning (i.e. overall argument) not a Flaw.

But Parallel Flaw is more likely to allow wiggle room between the Distinctive Elements, i.e. 51% word in Arg Evidence may be matched by 100% word in AC evidence. Less parallelness needed since focus is on FLAW.**

Question 7

What two Q types require identification and matching of Distinctive Elements?

Answer 7

Parallel Flaw and Parallel Reasoning

PARALLEL

Question 8

What is special about SUF, STR, WKN, DOX qs?

They are only Q types you are not preferring by default WEAK language in ACs

Answer 8

Strengthen, Weaken, Sufficient, Paradox in Short Args

accept ACs as golden gospel truth.

ACs cannot have “too strong” language for these types

change MANY and SOME in the ACs to TWO, to reflect how weak that language is.

Question 9

TMs love to pick on slight differences in qualifiers!

Answer 9

E.g. the difference between “reduce stress” and “very high stress” in PT 76.2.12 Gingko made the correct AC be B. So keep an eye out for subtle shifts in similar terms via qualifiers!

Or the difference between “intend pleasure” vs “give pleasure” in PT 76.2.24

Question 10

What if you see prompt separated into Principle and Application?

Answer 10

This is basically just an Evidence-Conclusion flow by another name. Conclusion will be in Application and Evidence in Principle. Maybe a bit of evidence in Application as well.

Question 11

What are you looking for in a correct AC for a 4STN or 4WKN question?

Answer 11

Probably correct AC will be NEUTRAL. Occasionally the correct AC to 4STN will be a weakener. Occasionally the correct AC to 4WKN will be a strengthener.

Question 12

4 TYPES of Qs where you will see “if E then C” answer choices

Answer 12

Reasoning Conforms, ? See Slow Drills at 6:01 video
x
x
x

Question 13

Do you see “if xxx” in the Conclusion of an argument, what to do?

Answer 13

That’s a conditional qualifier! Accept it as truth, because that is the world we live in!