Formal Logic

[moshei24]

I noticed the formal logic analysis on the student site. Is it too late in the game to read through that big packet of formal logic? Would it be worth it or would it be counterproductive to add all those detailed concepts to my repertoire at this point? I would be just reading it, and not doing any drills. Should I read through it? Or should I stick to my current study plan? Will it confuse me or will it supplement what I already know about formal logic from the questions I've seen on it?

Thank you!

[Dave Killoran]

Tough question. In your scoring range, you really should have formal logic locked down. It's a fairly clear, black-and-white reasoning system that's pretty much like logical math. That said, it usually takes a bit to learn and can be challenging to grasp fully.

I'd say start by reading through the material, and then making the call based on how it strikes you. Does it seems pretty reasonable and most of it makes sense? Then continue on. Or does it seems confusing and strange? Then skip it.

FL isn't a huge part of the LSAT, so it's not in your best interest to spend a majority of your time in these last few weeks studying it. But it still is tested, and when you encounter it, it's great to be able to slice it apart in seconds (this is especially key because it often seems wildly confusing if someone isn't versed in the relationships--see http://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewto ... 5480#p3613 for an example).

Thanks!

[moshei24]

First off, in the future, please, please warn me before you direct me to a discussion that was about a question on a later test. December 2009 is actually the next test that I'm taking, and I just saw an answer to one of the questions on it. Given that, would you suggest that I push that test off and take a different one before it instead? Or do you have any tips on how to forget the right answer to a question? Ugh. (Should I put two tests in before this one now? - I tend to remember things pretty well, even when I try to forget them. Hopefully, getting the iPhone 5 today will distract me enough to forget.)

But as for formal logic. I remember doing a question a few days ago - #448 in LR Problem Set 5. At first, I got it wrong, but that was because I used the conclusion to help get to the conclusion, which you can't do in a Justify question. But then I realized that it works like this: If you take the answer (E), and add it to the stimulus it produces this:
Skilled Artists Famous

we also have the majority of skilled artists are very creative, and all people who are very creative are also good at abstract reasoning. That gives us this: Skilled Artists good at abstract reasoning

So if most skilled artists are famous and most are good at abstract reasoning, then some people who are famous are good at abstract reasoning. Basically if most A's are B's and most A's are C's then some B's are C's. There's always that overlap.

If I could piece that together in my head without using paper, does that mean I have a solid grasp on formal logic and reading through the analysis on it won't really confuse me?

[Dave Killoran]

Well, when you saw the tagline of the post, you were under no obligation to read it. I'm not tracking each practice test you take, so I didn't know if you'd taken that test or not.

The decision on formal logic is yours to make. We're not inside your head, so there's no way for me to really assess what's best for you here. If you're confident that you can juggle the concepts without further study, then by all means skip it.

[moshei24]

I wasn't saying that as an attack on you. I didn't look at it; I just went to look at what was in the discussion. So should I skip that test and come back to it? Any tips on forgetting the answer?

I hear. Then again, reading through that could require learning a bunch of new concepts that could result in more juggling. I know you're not in my head, but I was asking based on your experience, would it be beneficial or detrimental to add a bunch more concepts so close to the test, or could it result in second-guessing answers and mechanisms to get to answers?

[Dave Killoran]

Skip the test and come back to it next week.

As for Formal Logic, please see my prior posts--I indicated that it's worth knowing, but whether it's worth learning at this late stage is up to you, and then I outlined an approach that would yield an answer for you. Since I cannot determine what will happen when you start learning the concepts, you have to use your own judgment once you start looking it over. You may take to it easily, or you might not. If not, pass on it.

[moshei24]

Okay, thank you.

And as for the test, I was planning on taking it on Monday, and then the next one on Thursday or Friday. So I should just switch those two around?

Thank you.


...And last thing - should I spend time doing the drills on it? Or will reading through it be enough? And if I should go through the drills - should I go through some? All? I feel like the drills would take up some extra time - what do you think?

[Dave Killoran]

Depends. If it's making sense, try a few drill items and see if you have it. If it's not making sense, skip it all.

[moshei24]

Okay, thanks!