How do you master weaken questions on the LSAT?

Asked by: Mr. Terence Fritsch I  |  Last update: August 31, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (5 votes)

Weaken questions ask you to find statements that decrease (weaken) the strength of an argument. Since the premises are taken to be true, the way to decrease the strength of an argument is to attack its assumptions that the argument relies upon.

How do you master flaw questions on the LSAT?

In every flaw question, something goes wrong when the arguer moves from the support to the conclusion, so it's a great idea to separate the two parts of the argument. Top tip: Don't question the evidence itself. The accuracy of the support isn't up for debate on the LSAT, so you must assume that it is true.

How do I get better at strengthening questions on the LSAT?

Make a Strong Prediction
  1. Find the main conclusion. If the conclusion rejects an idea, restate the conclusion as the opposite of that idea. ...
  2. Find the premises. Premises are statements that support the main conclusion. ...
  3. Figure out why the premises don't prove the main conclusion.

How do you solve strengthen and weaken questions?

Does the topic shift in a meaningful way? If so, then connecting the topic in the support and the topic in the conclusion in a logical way might strengthen the argument. In the same manner, making the topic in the support less related/connected to the topic in the conclusion may weaken the argument.

How do you weaken a statement?

A passage must be weakened by attacking the connection between the premise and the conclusion; trying to refute the facts presented in not the correct way.

Weaken | LSAT Logical Reasoning

16 related questions found

What is an example of weaken?

[+ object] : to make (something or someone) weaker, less forceful, less effective, etc. The disease weakens the immune system. Some are concerned that the increase in taxes will weaken the economy. The beams had been weakened by water damage.

What tends to weaken an argument?

Any choice that states that the assumption is wrong will weaken the argument. II. If different evidence can strengthen the argument; different evidence can weaken the argument as well. Any new information given in an answer choice that makes the assumption less likely to be correct will weaken the argument as a whole.

How do you master critical reasoning?

Tips to ace GMAT critical reasoning
  1. Read the question thoroughly. It is important to read each question carefully and understand what it is asking before jumping into answering it. ...
  2. Pull out keywords. ...
  3. Identify assumptions. ...
  4. Understand the scope of the argument. ...
  5. Evaluate possible answers. ...
  6. Practice, practice, practice.

How do you weaken a causal argument?

Weaken a causal relationship (X caused Y): Show that there could be an alternate cause (Z caused Y). Weaken a conclusion that's based on a sample: Show that the sample isn't big enough or relevant enough.

How do you strengthen your argument?

9 Ways to Construct a Compelling Argument
  1. Keep it simple. ...
  2. Be fair on your opponent. ...
  3. Avoid other common fallacies. ...
  4. Make your assumptions clear. ...
  5. Rest your argument on solid foundations. ...
  6. Use evidence your readers will believe. ...
  7. Avoid platitudes and generalisations, and be specific. ...
  8. Understand the opposing point of view.

How do you solve weaken questions on the LSAT?

Understand why the premises don't prove the main conclusion.

Imagine that the opposing counsel is making this argument and it's your job to disprove it. Even if you don't predict the correct answer word for word, identifying flaws will give you a head start on finding the argument's most glaring weak points.

What is the hardest section to improve on LSAT?

Typically test takers find Analytical Reasoning to be the most difficult section of the LSAT.

How do you break the LSAT plateau?

Here's what I learned (and what I would recommend to LSAT students also facing score plateaus):
  1. Beware of practice test fatigue. ...
  2. Take away the time pressure. ...
  3. Engage with the material in a new way. ...
  4. Zero in on the tricky questions. ...
  5. Don't be afraid to call it a day.

What is the most common flaw on the LSAT?

Confusing sufficient and necessary conditions is hands-down the most common flaw on the LSAT. It's also a flaw that tends to trip up novices the most. But understanding the difference between sufficient and necessary is a lot simpler than you might think.

How do I outsmart my LSAT?

So, without further ado . . .
  1. Take a Practice Exam Cold. ...
  2. Learn and Understand the Logic on the LSAT. ...
  3. Focus on the Five Most Common Logical Principles Tested on the LSAT. ...
  4. Practice with Actual LSAT Exams. ...
  5. Practice Under Test-Like Conditions. ...
  6. Review your practice exam results. ...
  7. Isolate and Improve Your Strengths.

How many questions can I get wrong to get a 160 on the LSAT?

So, you don't have to be perfect to do well. Every LSAT throughout the year is different, but on a typical LSAT, you can still get 25 wrong and end up in the 160s— or about 20 wrong and get a 164, a 90th percentile score. Even a perfect score of 180 often allows for a question or two to be missed.

What are weak arguments examples?

Here is an example of weak argument: “Charlie is a woman. Some women like poetry. Therefore, Charlie likes poetry.” In this case, the premise “some women like poetry” has a low or unclear probability, so the argument is weak.

How do you break causality?

On the other hand, if signals could move faster than the speed of light, this would violate causality because it would allow a signal to be sent across spacelike intervals, which means that at least to some inertial observers the signal would travel backward in time.

What is an example of a strong causal argument?

Examples of this type of argument might look something like this: An argumentative essay focused on why the U.S. has a high number of children who are “food insecure”. An argumentative essay explaining why Facebook remains popular despite privacy complaints.

Why is critical thinking hard to master?

Complexity. Critical-thinking tasks tend to be much more difficult than others in part because critical thinking needs to be built on a foundation of language and comprehension. Also, some of the issues involved when analyzing statements and arguments are quite subtle.

How do I get better at critical analysis?

How To Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills
  1. Know exactly what you want. ...
  2. Deal with your biases. ...
  3. Consider the consequences of your options. ...
  4. Do your research. ...
  5. Accept the fact that you're not always right. ...
  6. Break it down. ...
  7. Don't overcomplicate things. ...
  8. 2023 Course Trends & Skills Outlook Report.

How can I sharpen my critical thinking skills?

How to improve critical thinking
  1. Become more self-aware. ...
  2. Understand your mental process. ...
  3. Develop foresight. ...
  4. Practice active listening. ...
  5. Ask questions. ...
  6. Evaluate existing evidence. ...
  7. Meeting with a mentor. ...
  8. Participating in team-building exercises.

What are 3 things not to do in an argument?

Here are eight things you should never do during an argument with your spouse.
  • Never take your focus off the problem at hand. ...
  • Never listen to argue your point. ...
  • Never say words like “never” or “always.” ...
  • Never bring up old stuff. ...
  • Never call names. ...
  • Never throw around the word “divorce,” also known as the “D” word.

What are signs of a weak argument?

If an argument is weak, you'd be better off throwing a coin to know if the conclusion is true and that's far from succeeding in providing reasons for a conclusion. So, if the conclusion is unlikely to be true when the premises are true, then the argument is weak.

What are defects that weaken arguments?

What are fallacies? Fallacies are defects that weaken arguments. By learning to look for them in your own and others' writing, you can strengthen your ability to evaluate the arguments you make, read, and hear.