Logical reasoning= my biggest issue

[vjunkins]

Hello,

LR is MY biggest weakness when it comes to the LSAT. I usually get stuck between two answers ( one is right the other is wrong) and I usually pick the wrong one. I have even read Nikki "Donald trump article" and still a little iffy. What I think my issue is, I am just horrible in conditional reasoning. I have been over lesson 2 countless of times but still getting stuck. Any advice, links, suggestions? I know this is what keeps bringing down my score.

Thank you,
Victoria

P.S. I even took the virtual full length online in August 2015 and I have looked over the recordings, but it just seems I can't get the hang of it. Look forward to reading the suggestions!

[Steve Stein]

Hi Victoria,

That's a good question. First, it's great that you can narrow the choices down to two options—each time you do that you have effectively elminated three incorrect answer choices, and you cannot do that without having some grasp on the stimulus. It is also worth noting that you probably make the right choice on many occassions as well—it's just that answers you got right often don't garner the same level of attention in retrospect as those you got wrong.

When you have successfully narrowed the choices to only two options, it may be worthwhile to consider your prephrase again to see which answer choice matches most closely (do you generally prephrase an answer before looking at the answer choices?). It seems that you have had this narrowing-down-to-two experience on many occassions, which can be helpful! Take a look back at the questions that led you to choose the wrong answer, and particularly at the differences between the wrong answers you chose and the correct answers that you didn't. It's important to understand why the right answer is right, and in this context, it may be even more important to understand what makes each wrong answer incorrect.

It's also helpful to know that you recognize this to be an area that requires focus—conditional reasoning can be quite challenging, which is why the makers of the test seem to like it so much! When you say that you are "horrible in conditional reasoning," what does that mean? For example, when you see a conditional statement, are you able to draw the contrapositive? Have you familiarized yourself with common conditional indicators, and would you be comfortable diagramming a statement with indicator words such as "if you study, then you will do well"? How do you feel about diagramming a statement with the term "unless"? Let me know what you are most comfortable with, and the areas that you have found most challenging, and we can start from there!

Thanks! I look forward to hearing more!

~Steve

[vjunkins]

Hello Steve,

I just took Practice Test #3 June 2010 LSAT and I received a 142. For Logic Games and Reading Comp I had more right answers then wrong especially in Logic Games. However for LR I got 16 correct and 33 incorrect. And I believe I am scoring so low in LR is I am just not comprehending conditional reasoning. To answer your questions, I know the common indicators and can digram, BUT when it comes to the "not" parts I mix that up. I know when to use which arrows. It seems to me that I remember random parts from each conditional reasoning section but not all of it. I truly need to improve on the LR part since its 50% of the exam and it keeps bringing down my score. I have purchased the LR Bible(went all through that) and LR Workbook(haven't started it yet). I have watched the videos in Lesson 2 multiple times explaining conditional reasoning. So, I am not sure how to proceed on this at this time.

-Victoria

[David Boyle]

Hello Steve,

I just took Practice Test #3 June 2010 LSAT and I received a 142. For Logic Games and Reading Comp I had more right answers then wrong especially in Logic Games. However for LR I got 16 correct and 33 incorrect. And I believe I am scoring so low in LR is I am just not comprehending conditional reasoning. To answer your questions, I know the common indicators and can digram, BUT when it comes to the "not" parts I mix that up. I know when to use which arrows. It seems to me that I remember random parts from each conditional reasoning section but not all of it. I truly need to improve on the LR part since its 50% of the exam and it keeps bringing down my score. I have purchased the LR Bible(went all through that) and LR Workbook(haven't started it yet). I have watched the videos in Lesson 2 multiple times explaining conditional reasoning. So, I am not sure how to proceed on this at this time.

-Victoria

Hello Victoria,

It sounds like you may just need to practice more, even to the point it may almost become boring. That is, so that you can practically diagram conditional reasoning in your sleep, because you have practiced so much.
You say, "BUT when it comes to the "not" parts I mix that up. I know when to use which arrows. It seems to me that I remember random parts from each conditional reasoning section but not all of it." Well, then do a lot more practice about the "not" parts, including things about "unless", and negating what comes before the arrow. You know that a slash is often used to indicate "not", right?? And you say you remember random parts; then you need to drill a lot more, so that you remember, and know how to use, all the parts without fail!!
Without getting into set theory, here's an extra tip: sometimes many sufficients could produce one necessary, but not the other way around. For example, lighting a match, using a blowtorch, etc., are all different fiery ways to light a pool of gasoline on fire. The reverse isn't true, though; just because there's a pool of flaming gasoline, that doesn't prove that one particular method was used to light it (e.g., match, blowtorch, etc.). This is one reason why Mistaken Reversals occur; many sufficient things, different ones, could have produced a necessary consequence, but that necessary consequence does not always point back to one sufficient condition, since many different sufficient conditions could have sufficed.
And all of Steve's pointers above are valuable, and deserve re-reading.
Best of luck, and hope you had a pleasant Thanksgiving,

Hope this helps,
David

[vjunkins]

Would you happen to know where I can drill conditional reasoning? I already drilled from lesson 2 a couple of times and from the LR Bible. Any other place I could check out?

Thanks,
Victoria

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Victoria,

Thanks for the question! There will be more conditional reasoning coming up in the future lessons, and there is also additional work that can be found in the LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Workbook.

With the lessons, the way they are set up is that early on we limit the number of problems that are in each book. Why? Because initially we want you to focus on understanding the concepts. So, the lessons are heavier on concepts and lighter on problems. This changes very quickly. Once you've been exposed to the main ideas and techniques, the number of problems begins to ramp up dramatically. Plus, we regularly revisit ideas from earlier in the lessons, both to keep you fresh on those ideas, and to add new layers to the strategies and techniques. Thus, with conditional reasoning, at Lesson 2 you are still very early in the process and there is quite a bit more to come.

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Victoria,

Since your followup question was on a specific drill, for the convenience of other readers I moved it over to: lsat/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7995&p=20817#p20817.

Thanks!