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I'm having trouble with RC. It used to be my strongest area, but I think I'm psyching myself out. During the Oct 3 there was one passage that I just couldn't understand, and kept starting over. It caused me to panic bc I knew time was ticking.
I am a working teacher, so I took my LSAT materials to a colleague who teaches English and, among other things, she insisted I really should read the questions before reading the passage, to increase understanding and to know what I'm looking for.
I told her that this is a discouraged strategy for the LSAT. I know I read that somewhere, but can't remember where. What do ya'll think? Read questions before passage, or no?
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I believe that is Dante’s third level in the Inferno.
I really do believe that improving your raw reading ability plays a larger role than we would like to think in terms of improving our RC scores. Don't just start reading dense material, but read to memorize structure and the underlying interaction within the passages viewpoints/evidence/etc. JY's memory method is a great place to start. Make it a habit. Every day!
Thanks ya'll. I think her advice is sound for an untimed test (or a test I wasn't worried about being able to finish). However, the LSAT doesn't give you any time to waste. What I would do for even 5 more minutes!!
she insisted I really should read the questions before reading the passage, to increase understanding and to know what I'm looking for.
She is wrong. She is not giving you advice that is relevant to the LSAT.
There's no way you'll be able to remember 7 question stems while reading and trying to do so will ultimately hinder your overall ability to understand the passage. Reading questions before the passage is a big no-no.
No don't read the questions beforehand. I think LSAT RC is different than RC that is taught during our schooling as children.
Read for structure/AO/other people's opinions/specific dates and information and use the questions to guide you back into the passage to find the information.
@jinadarcy0610262 -- Yeah! I teach 11th grade English and OMG do my juniors leave me so tired (happy, but SO TIRED) after the day. It's exhausting!
@shainabarber747 - I didn't realize you were a teacher. What level? I teach middle school and it's been quite the adventure.
Hi @shainabarber747! I'm a working teacher as well so PROPS TO YOU for studying while working -- it is not easy. I would argue most English teachers (which is my department) have no idea how different of the test the LSAT is -- it's nothing like they teach or have experienced in undergrad/in their credentialing program unless they once considered going to law school. Take their well-intentioned advice with a grain of salt. Like @jinadarcy0610262 said, it's a time suck.
You're correct, it's discouraged.
1. Time is precious, too precious to waste on reading questions then reading the passage and then, inevitably, reading the questions a second time.
2. You should walk into the test with a clear idea of what the questions will look like anyway. There are no surprises here, you know you'll be asked main point, author's opinion, structural questions, etc.
Hope this helps! Sounds like you're on the right track.