Hey Jen,
Thanks for the info! I've got a few thoughts on both aspects of you questions, so let's break this into two sections: Assumptions and Selecting a Final Answer:
Assumptions
First, always remember there are two types of assumptions: Sufficient Assumptions (which we also call Justify questions) and Necessary Assumptions (which is what we typically call just Assumptions).
Looking just on the Necessary Assumption side (which is often the harder of the two types), think about Assumptions as minimalist answers. There can be nothing extraneous in a correct answer to an Assumption question—everything has to be something the author would rely upon in forming the argument. In this sense, there is an idea of must be true present, although it is something the author took as true
while making the argument. If there are additional components present in the answer, or statements that an author doesn't have to be committed to, then the answer will be incorrect.
When comparing that to Justify answers, the first point of confusion is that the two are often identical. That is, an answer could serve as an assumption or it could serve to justify the conclusion. But, while that is possible, it doesn't have to be that way, and Justify answers can contain additional, non-essential information. Let me use a rough example to explain this critical difference.
- Premise: I just bought two apples.
Conclusion: Therefore, I own five apples.
An Assumption answer would be along the lines of:
- Answer: I already had three apples in my possession.
But, note also that this same answer could serve as a correct answer in a Justify question. Thus, this is a good example of where they overlap.
Using the same argument as above, let's look at another answer:
- Answer: I already had three apples and two oranges in my possession.
This answer would be incorrect in an Assumption question, because the information about the two oranges is non-essential. But, in a Justify question, this would still be a correct answer because the information about the apples justifies the conclusion (and once that occurs, the information about the oranges is irrelevant).
Ultimately, this highlights the fact that assumptions are always about the minimalist answer where everything must be something the author fully believes in. Justify answers, on the other hand, can be like that, but they can also contain additional information—all that matters is that when added to the premises the answer produces the conclusion.
So, the reason I added all of the above information was highlight the fact that when you are comparing Assumption answers, one test you can use is which one contains extra or non-essential information? Answers that are wrong often have extra pieces of info in them, so keep a close eye on that.
Here's some additional information that might help:
Selecting a Final Answer
Ok, this is a broader issue, and one that every single person who has studied for the LSAT has experienced! If you find that you are very frequently changing a correct answer, then the first approach to try would be to not change answers unless you are absolutely certain you are right. That is harder said than done, however.
When you reach a situation where you are either down two two, or feel like you might like to change an answer after selecting one, the criteria for making the final selection changes depending on the question type. This is because some questions types allow me inherent double-checks whereas others do not. So, in those instances where I can apply a double-check or test of some sort, I will tend to do that. This is a quick overview of situations where that occurs:
- Must Be True: use the Fact Test to prove/disprove an answer.
Justify the Conclusion (Sufficient Assumption): use the Justify Formula
Assumption (Necessary Assumption): use the Assumption Negation Technique
Method of Reasoning/Flaw in the Reasoning: use an abstract version of the Fact Test
Parallel Reasoning/Parallel Flaw: Use the Elemental Attack
Evaluate the Argument: use the Variance Test
That's actually a fair proportion of the question in any given LR section, and it gives you a method to evaluate any single answer.
Should you compare two answers to each other? you can, but that's a last resort because one of the two answers in invariably wrong, so you are making a comparison against something known to be incorrect. Better to evaluate the stimulus first since the information needed to answer any question resides there.
Here's some additional information that might help:
Please let me know if that helps, and of course if you have additional questions please add them here. Thanks!
