LSAT Short Arguments - How to ID + Process for ACs of Assumption-Strengthen and Assumption-Weaken questions Flashcards
“Answer choice strengthens…”
“Answer choice supports…:
“Answer choice most justifies…”
“Argument supported by the answer choice…”
“Most helpful in establishing…”
“of the following most helps to justify the application of the principle…” (where the prompt is in Principle–Application format which is basically just an Evidence-Conclusion flow by another name)
Assumption Strengthen
Read Conclusion, Distill Evidence to identify Assumption and Flaw
Strengthen is in relation to the assumption, using the argument assumption as the starting point. It could be a little stronger, or a lot stronger, or in between. Difft from sufficient in that sufficient needs to be enough to prove.
Find AC to make ASSUMPTION more likely to be true. Stronger language is better.
Note if you have a “balancing” or “seesaw” type comparison question where you are comparing two options, the TMs LOVE to use correct ACs that rule out OTHER factors subtly, using “only” or “no other” etc for STR and WKN questions (see PT 64.2.17 arch “only considerations…”)
Note the correct AC will not simply restate evidence
Note “many” and “some” in Strengthen and Weaken and Dox and Suf ACs should be read as “two”
Note there are 4 types of Qs where you take Evidence AND all the ACs as Golden Gospel Truth: Ass-Wkn, Ass-Str, Sit-pradox, and Ass-suff
“answer choice weakens…”
“answer choice undermines/counters…”
“call in to question…”
“weakens the argument above…”
“which of the following, if true, constitutes the logically strongest counter to (the above)…”
Assumption Weaken
ID Conclusion
Distill Evidence
Identify Assumption and Flaw
Find AC to make ASSUMPTION less likely to be true. Stronger language is better (weakens more)
Note if you have a “balancing” or “seesaw” type comparison question where you are comparing two options, the TMs LOVE to use correct ACs that rule out OTHER factors subtly, using “only” or “no other” etc for STR and WKN questions (see PT 64.2.17 arch “only considerations…”)
Note “many” and “some” in Strengthen and Weaken and Dox and Suf ACs should be read as “two
Note there are 4 types of Qs where you take Evidence AND all the ACs as Golden Gospel Truth: Ass-Wkn, Ass-Str, Sit-pradox, and Ass-suff
