Error Of Reasoning

[LateBloomer]

What is exactly is an Error of Reasoning?

The book says a lot that you must do this "even if it contains an error of reasoning"
EX: (first rule for First Question Family p. 75) You must accept the stimulus info--even if it contains an error of reasoning-- and use it to prove that one of the answer choices must be true.

Are the "errors of reasoning" placed in the stimulus on purpose? Or am I suppose to assume that the argument is sound, even if my knowledge of the subject leads to me believe it is unsound?----which would thus be the 'error of reasoning' the book is referring to.

[Dave Killoran]

Are the "errors of reasoning" placed in the stimulus on purpose?

The answer here is an emphatic YES!! LSAT stimuli are full of Errors of Reasoning, which occur when an author makes a mistake while forming the argument (that could be any one of a number of errors, such as a causal error, conditional error, etc—those will be covered in detail later in the book). In many instances, your ability to identify those errors is crucial to solving the problem successful, but there are also occasions (depending on the question stem) where you have to accept the error and either replicate it Parallel Flaw question), identify what it is is (Flaw question), or even make judgments based on the pieces (Must/Main Point).

You will see many mistakes made by LSAT author's, and it's always useful when you can spot those. The question stem then dictates what you do with them, so for now just keep an eye on what the author says, and then we'll keep discussing forms of reasoning as you progress through the book.

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!