LSAT Preparation Series: Lecture 2 - Foundations in Logic and Argumentation

Introduction

• Importance of understanding LSAT logic and argumentation.
• Focus on two major areas:
  1. Understanding complex language on the LSAT.
  2. Arguments and the hidden logic.
• Skills taught will apply to Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections.

Complex LSAT Language

• Challenge: Difficult vocabulary and complex sentences.
• Skill Focus: Finding claims.
  • Claims form the backbone of arguments.
  • Use the "bullseye" tool to identify claims.
  • Bullseye Tool: Identify the sentence's core, often a main subject and verb.
  • Secondary information answers questions about the core.

Example Analysis

• Sentences can have cores that are the primary focus:
  • e.g., "The dog chases the ball."
  • Nested claims can be highlighted using words like "that."

Logic and Argumentation

• Core concept: Arguments persuade using logical support.
• Relationships of Support: Claims support other claims, making them more likely to be true.
• Tools:
  1. Skeptic's Perspective: Ask why a claim should be believed; find supporting claims.
  2. Conclusion Identification: Recognize the argument's conclusion, the main claim.

Tools for Conclusion Identification

• Signal Words: Words that indicate support or conclusions (e.g., therefore, so, consequently).
• SO Test: Insert 'so' between claims to check for support.

Conditional Logic

• Importance: Offers tighter arguments through logical inferences.
• Universal Statements: All, every, any, always can be translated into conditional statements.
• Conditional Statements: Use "if... then..." format.
• Contrapositive: Negate and flip both sides of the original conditional.

Examples

• Socratic examples: "Socrates is mortal" deduced from universal statements.
• Dolphins and body hair: Used to illustrate conditional logic.

Building If-Then Machines

• Translate statements to "if... then..." form for logical clarity.
• Contrapositives: Derived by negating and flipping original statements.

Common Conditional Words

• "Only" conditionals: Special attention needed, often misunderstood.

Practice and Application

• Exercises to translate sentences into if-then format and create contrapositives.
• Conditional logic often tested in LR (Logical Reasoning) questions.

Conclusion

• Summary:
  • Parsing complex language with the Bullseye tool.
  • Recognizing arguments and their structures.
  • Using conditional logic and if-then machines for clarity.
• Outcome: Strong foundational skills for tackling LSAT logical reasoning.
• Encouragement to review and practice skills before moving to the next lesson focusing on Logical Reasoning section-specific skills.