Lesson 2: Necessary Assumption Questions

What is the BIG DIFFERENCE between an assumption of the argument and its conclusion?

The conclusion of an argument is the single, well-defined thing that the author wants us to believe. -Once you start thinking about WHY we should believe it, you're moving past the conclusion and into the reasoning of the argument.

Step 4: Necessary Assumption Question

Use Process of Elimination When down to 2 choices, NEGATE each statement to see if the argument falls apart. -IF it DOES, thats your answer The credited response will have to link the conclusion and premise(s) together somehow **An assumption is something the argument NEEDS, but we don't want to pick a choice that is MORE than what the argument NEEDS** The relevance of an answer choice is determined by what the argument is trying to do - its SCOPE

Answer Choice Wording

We've written assumptions in language that matches the tone of the LSAT for the purposes of this book, but you don't have to come up with anything that fancy while you're working under timed conditions. Just locate the potential problems with an argument and leave writing the answer choices to the LSAC

Arguments Technique: The Negation Test

When you're doing Process of Elimination on Necessary Assumption questions, the Negation Test can be used to tell you for certain whether a particular fact is essential to an argument **ONLY WORKS FOR NA Q's - NOT SA Q's** Steps: -Negate the answer choice to see whether the conclusion remains intact. -To negate a choice, often all you have to do is negate the main verb. -If its hard to tell when to throw in a "NOT", simply say, "Its not true that..." followed by the answer choice -If the conclusion falls apart, then the choice is a valid assumption and thus is the credited response Because a necessary assumption is required by the argument, all you have to do is suppose the choice you're looking at is UNTRUE -If the choice is essential to the argument, then the argument SHOULD NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT IT

A Few Examples of NA Question Stems

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? Which one of the following is an assumption required by the editorial's argument? The consumer's argument relies on the assumption that? Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? The argument depends on assuming which one of the following?

Can the Negation Test be used to eliminate answers in addition to confirming them?

Yes **But the Negation Test shouldn't be a 1st line elimination method for you** However, it can be quite helpful in a situation where you are down to 2 answer choices that both seem appealing OR as a final check before you settle on your answer

How To Spot An Assumption?

-Can be difficult -Sometimes looking for a LANGUAGE SHIFT between the conclusion and the premises will help you spot it -It is important to understand that your real-world beliefs about whether or not an assumption is "good" play no role in analyzing arguments on the LSAT -Assumptions that you consider reasonable are more difficult to spot, because unless you pay very close attention, you may not even realize they're there

Step 2: Necessary Assumption Question

Analyze the argument by finding its conclusion and premises. BUT If possible, you need to find what's wrong with the argument BEFORE you go to the answer choices. -Do this by maintaining a skeptical attitude and looking for differences in wording 1 thing to look for in any argument like this is a NEW IDEA OR JUDGMENT CALL IN THE CONCLUSION -On the LSAT you are always looking for whether the conclusion is PROPERLY DRAWN from the premises -If an important idea is missing from the premises, then that is a serious problem with the argument When looking for the problems in an argument, it is important NOT to give the argument the benefit of the doubt. Be skeptical, and examine the language of the conclusion very closely

Step 1: Necessary Assumption Question

Assess the question (Ex: Which one of the following is an assumption on which the analyst's argument relies?) (Ex: The argument above assumes which of the following?) (Ex: The writer's argument depends on which of the following?) Language such as "relies on", "depends on", "requires" -Sure sign(s) of a Necessary Assumption Question

What is a Necessary Assumption Question?

Assumption questions ask you to pick the choice that fills a gap in the author's reasoning. A Necessary Assumption is something that the argument relies on but doesn't state -- something that NEEDS to be true in order for the argument to work.

Don't forget to always mark the ________ on NA questions

Conclusion

Tip on analyzing arguments and finding assumptions

Don't make your life too difficult when you're analyzing an argument to find its assumptions. You don't need to write LSAT answer choices in order to have a good sense of whats wrong with an argument. -Knowing the link that your answer needs to connect the premise(s) to the conclusion is plenty to get you ready to evaluate the answer choices

Step 3: Necessary Assumption Question

Once you've found 1 or more problems with the argument, you're almost ready to go Realize that an assumption will not only HELP the argument, usually by fixing 1 of the problems you've identified, but it will also be essential to the argument. -If you are having trouble finding assumption, look for a gap between 2 different ideas in the argument -The assumption will always at least mildly strengthen the author's conclusion and is NECESSARY for the conclusion to follow from the information provided **The credited response to a Necessary Assumption question will be a statement that is essential for the argument's conclusion to be valid**

Understanding of the phrase(s): "If Assumed" / "Properly Drawn"

Sometimes a question will ask you, "Which of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion to be properly drawn?" -This is a SUFFICIENT ASSUMPTION question, NOT a necessary assumption question