Chap 5

Question 1

Sufficient Assumption Definition (p.163)

Answer 1

1. A sufficient assumption proves the conclusion 100% true.
2. Sufficient assumptions are supposed to be powerful.
3. Notice a few of the commonalities between the sufficient assumptions above. They’re each using powerful words like “will”, “always” and “everything” and bridging the gap between the premise and conclusion.

Question 2

The Necessary Assumption Def. P. 164

Answer 2

1. If the conclusion is true, the necessary Assumption must also be true.
2. A necessary assumption is proven by the conclusion, just like a valid conclusion is proven by the premise
3. Necessary assumptions are provable, just like Inferences/valid conclusions.

Question 3

The Assumption Chain p. 165

Answer 3

1. The Sufficient assumption proves the conclusion, and in turn, the conclusion proves the necessary assumption
2. **Sufficient Assumption ➡️Conclusion True ➡️ Necessary Assumption.

Question 4

The Assumption Test:

Answer 4

• As I evaluate the assumption candidates,
  
  • I will the following two questions to determine whether an assumption is sufficient or necessary,
  • YES, response means we’ve correctly identified our assumption. -
• Sufficient Test: Does {assumption candidate} prove the conclusion?
• Necessary Test: If the conclusion is true, must {assumption condidate} be true?
• If you’re ever confused about whether an assumption is sufficient or necessary, fill in the blanks with the specifics of the argument and ask yourself these two questions.

Question 5

Some words that are used in a sufficient assumption.

Answer 5

• They use powerful words like:
  
  • (Will, Always, and Everything.) and bridging the gap between the premise and the conclusion.

Question 6

What does a sufficient assumption do?-

Answer 6

A sufficient assumption proves the conclsuion 100%.

Question 7

What does a necessary assumption do?

Answer 7

A necessary assumption is what has to be true if the conclusion is true. Its the necessary foundation for the argument.

Question 8

What are the key difference between Sufficient Assumptions and Necessary Assumptions?

Answer 8

• Sufficient Assumptions:
  
  • 1. Powerful, Strong
  • 2. Not Boring
  • 3. Prove the conclusion 100% of the time.
  • 4. If the conclusion is true, does this have to be true:
       * Ans = No Necessary Assumption:
       
       • 1. Provable
       • 2. Boring
       • 3. If the conclusion is true, does this have to be true:
            * Ans = yes.

Question 9

The “If OUR PREMISES THEN OUR CONCLUSIONS” P. 169

Answer 9

“If our premise then our conclusion.” construction are both sufficient and Nesscesary assumptions.

Question 10

Loop Hole

Answer 10

• If the Loophole is true then the conclusion is screwed Use the term “What if” to start your loophole.
• The LoopHole is the flipside of the necessary assumption.
  
  • “Like its evil twin”
  • Necessary assumptions

Question 11

The Dangling Variable (Loophole)

Answer 11

Dangling variables are new words that appear in the conclusion and not on the premise. The author pretends that these new words are “basically” the same as different words from the premises.

Question 12

Conditional Dangling Variables (Loophole) p.177

Answer 12

Conditional Dangling Variables add a new variable to the conclusion condition statement.

Question 13

Secret Value Judgment ( Loophole) P. 178

Answer 13

Secret Value Judgments happen when the author gets judgy in conclusion. Judgments are a big deal on the LSAT.

Question 14

Common Secret Value Judgements

Answer 14

• Moral/Immoral - Should/Shouldn’t -Appropriate/ Inappropriate -Prudent/Imprudent -Good/bad -right/wrong.

Question 15

Things to pay attention to Re Sufficient and Necessary Assumptions.

Answer 15

-Sufficient assumptions use points in the premise to bridge the gap to the conclusion. -Necessary Assumptions are very boring.

Question 16

Loophole Chain.

Answer 16

Loophole ➡ ~Conclusion True ➡ ~Sufficient Assumption.

Question 17

Sufficient Assumption Examples: Re The below Argument. (P. 162)

• Premise:
  
  • There’s Bana Bread on the table.
• Premise 2:
  
  • Camille very much enjoys banana bread.
• Conclusion:
  
  • The banana Bread will disappear within 20 Min.

Answer 17

• Sufficient Assumption:
  
  • ​A malevolent Stranger will take the banana bread from the table in 10 mins.
• What does this Sufficient Assumption Prove?
  
  • The banana bread will disappear within 20 minutes.
• Why is this a sufficient assumption?
  
  • ​The malevolent stranger taking the banana bread forces it to disappear.

Ex2:

• Sufficient Assumption:
  
  • Camille always eats everything she enjoys within 20 min
• What does this sufficient Assumption Prove?
  
  • The Banana with disappear in 20 Min.
• Why is this a Sufficient Assumption?
  
  • If Camille eats the Banana bread that forces it to disappear.

Question 18

Necessary Assumption argument example:

• Premise:
  
  • There’s Bana Bread on the table.
• Premise 2:
  
  • Camille very much enjoys banana bread.
• Conclusion:
  
  • The banana Bread will disappear within 20 Min.

Answer 18

Ex 1:

• Necessary Assumption:
  
  • ​The banana bread is movable.
• Why is this a necessary assumption?
  
  • If the banana bread disappears, then you have to be able to move it.

Ex 2:

• Necessary Assumption.
  
  • No one is successfully protecting the banana bread all day.
• Why is this a Necessary Assumption?
  
  • If the banana bread disappears, you couldn’t have a successful protector on guard.

Ex 3:

• Necessary Assumption.
  
  • ​Camille isn’t saving the banana bread for a party tomorrow.
• Why is this a Necessary Assumption?
  
  • If the banana bread disappears, then Camille isn’t saving it for tomorrow.

Question 19

Questions you should ask your self Re Coming up with loopholes.

Answer 19

1. When finish reading the stimulus ask what are they (author) trying to say
2. What is the author trying to hide from you.
3. What are they hoping you wont notice.

Question 20

How will I know that my Loophole works?

Answer 20

• Ask yourself if the conclusion is still proven in the face of your Loophole. If the Loophole works, the conclusion should no longer be ironclad.

Question 21

Three commandments of the Loopholes?

Answer 21

• The Loophole shalt not negate the premises.
  
  • Remember how I told you not to burn down your blocks in the Argument & Inference Chapter? Negating the premises is burning down your blocks.
  • The premises are true. The sooner you accept that, the better. The biggest mistake rookie Loophole designers make is saying, “What if that premise isn’t true?” you have to attack the relationship between the premise, the space in between them. Focus on how they (don’t) add up.
• The Loophole shalt not negate the conclusion
  
  • Saying “What if the conclusion doesn’t have to be true?” is like driving to the end of a foot race and declaring yourself the gold medal winner. you didn’t run to earn the medal; you just kind of showed up pretending you had.
  • Obviously, the conclusion doesn’t have to be true, unless it’s proven to be true, which isn’t the case on most LSAT stimuli. you can’t just declare the endpoint true. The Loophole shows why the conclusion doesn’t have to be true.
• The Loophole is there. Thou shalt figure it out.
  
  • Countless students have said, “But I just cant figure out the Loophole.” I always respond, “I don’t believe you.”
  • In the beginning, it can be difficult to find the right balance that enables you to quickly design a validity-destroying Loophole. But you can do this. Have the patience with yourself to build this skill. The students who tell me this are eventually able to quickly and intuitively design Loopholes. But this only happens once they stop letting themselves give up.
  • Let’s start by talking through a few common Loopholes that you will definitely encounter on the LSAT. This is far from an exhaustive list of the Loopholes you’ll see on the test, but they are a great place to start.