Strengthen and Weakens Questions and I....:/

[FrannieVargas]

I have been able to improve my performance on the Logical Reasoning section through the online recaps, class discussions, homework, review, etc. However, I always seem to miss strengthen and weaken type questions ( ex: I got 3/4 STRENGTH Qs wrong and 2/3 WEAKEN Qs wrong on the June 2008 LSAT). Any advice on how to mentally approach these questions. If it helps, I tend to perform best at Main Point ( but who doesn't?), Resolve the Paradox, Method of Reasoning, Assumption Qs.

Loyally,
Frannie Vargas '12

[Nikki Siclunov]

If you are performing well on MP, Paradox, Method and Assumption questions, this means you are able to accurately conceptualize the structure of most arguments and differentiate between their premises and conclusions. You are having trouble with one (or both) of the following primary objectives: approaching the arguments critically, and/or prephrasing a good answer to the question in the stem.

Weaken, Strengthen, and Flaw questions test your ability to isolate the conclusion and approach it critically: what's wrong with this argument? What is the conclusion missing, ignoring, or presuming without warrant? Are there other causes for the described effect? Is there a numerical misconception at play? To mentally approach these questions, assume that each argument followed by a Weaken/Strengthen question is flawed, i.e. that the conclusions are always suspect. As long as you can identify what's wrong with the conclusions, you will be in better shape when prephrasing a correct answer to the question. Also, return to Lesson 3 (causal reasoning) and make sure you can easily identify a causal problem. Many Weaken/Strengthen stimuli contain causation.

Good luck!

[Steve Stein]

Hi FrannieVargas,

First of all, great to hear that you've been seeing improvement. I suspect that you've developed the great habit of prephrasing your answer choices, because the question types that you mentioned are often particularly conducive to prephrasing: You can often arrive at the answers to Main Point, Resolve the Paradox, Method of Reasoning, and Supporter Assumption questions before even glancing at the answer choices. When it comes to Strengthen and Weaken, however, test takers often don't realize that those can be prephrased as well. Even though many arguments can be strengthened and weakened in several different ways, it can be quite helpful to consider, even in broad terms, the sorts of things that might strengthen or weaken a given argument.

Also, keep in mind that LSAT authors will often present arguments only to then immediately refute them--so be sure that you know what the author's stand is! If you don't keep some focus on the author's conclusion, Strengthen and Weaken questions can become quite difficult.

I'd suggest that you go back to some of those types of questions you've missed, underline the author's conclusion in the stimulus, and see if you can't prephrase some ways to strengthen or weaken the argument in each instance. Give it a shot and let me know if you start to find those a bit easier to see through--thanks!

~Steve