Hey, everyone. In my quest to become an LSAT test-taking machine, I made some digital flashcards to help me memorize some key concepts in LR:
-- Valid/Invalid argument forms
-- Stimuli Indicators (premise/conclusion, sufficient/necessary, causation, some/most/all)
-- Strategies by Question Type
I'm going to flip through these every day from now until the September test date until they can instantly be recalled from memory. And obviously, they're a compliment--not a substitute--for other forms of preparation. I thought I'd pass them along, just in case you find them useful, too.
If you like them, great!
If you don't like them, please tell me how you think they can be improved.
If you spot an error, please let me know.
If you have some great flashcards that help you memorize important LSAT info, please pass it along, too.
Thanks!
64 comments
10 years later and this is still great!
*** UPDATE ***
I don't abandoned the "question stems" and "strategies by question type" linked in the original post. Instead, I combined the two AND updated the cards with improved strategies.
- "Stems & Strategies": https://quizlet.com/_2dy8ob
They're not perfect, of course, but it's definitely more efficient to study this one stack instead of the other two.
Also, as nice as the visuals of the "valid/invalid argument forms" cards in the original post are, I've since updated my thinking on this, too. It's simpler and for me, better. So, feel free to make your own strategy flashcard with this info. for "all"/"most"/"some" premises:
- List each conditional premise, 1-by-1
- Note the "strongest term" on the sufficient side. (Usually an "all", but sometimes a "most"; NEVER a "some").
- 2 strong terms MUST have a sufficient in common to combine. (Exception: Most A are B, All B are C; you can say Most A are C.)
- (SOME + SOME) & (SOME + MOST) = Always Invalid
I hope that helps, everyone.
http://i.imgur.com/4GJoX1L.gif
Also for anyone interested, I made a quizlet for conditional indicators: https://quizlet.com/164108715/conditional-indicators-drill-flash-cards/
@peskma01918 : I can send you a Word file, which you can turn into a PDF, as well. But honestly, I don't think it won't be as effective as studying flashcards. I'm a teacher and the research shows that distributed practice coupled with memory retrieval is far superior for learning than re-reading material. is a short but informative video that explains some other quick study hacks based the science of learning, as well.
> @kleinstd975 said:
> > @redentore3337783 said:
> > Can someone please explain
> >
> > "CIRCLE: all conditional, modal, and quantifier words."
> >
> > what exactly are conditional, modal, and quantifier words or where I can be directed to learn exactly what those terms mean.
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> **Conditional Words**: words that express a clause/causal relationship, i.e. when something occurs or when it does not (e.g. "if", "unless", "as long as", etc.)
>
> **Modal Words**: words that express the likelihood of something occurring or not (e.g. "will", "probably", "can", etc.)
>
> **Quantifier Words**: words that express the amounts/degree of something occurring (e.g. "all", "most", "some", etc.)
>
> Yes, as stated by others, the 7Sage curriculum (or other LSAT resources) are where you'll go to learn these how these specific modifiers affect LSAT arguments.
>
> And the reason it's so important to notice ANY and ALL of these conditional/modal/quantifier words is that the presence of even one of them in a stimulus or answer choice completely alters argument. In fact, throughout all LR and RC sections, the difference between a valid or invalid argument, or a correct or incorrect answer, will often hinge precisely on the presence of one of these types of words.
>
> I hope that helps.
>
>
Thanks mate!
> @redentore3337783 said:
> Can someone please explain
>
> "CIRCLE: all conditional, modal, and quantifier words."
>
> what exactly are conditional, modal, and quantifier words or where I can be directed to learn exactly what those terms mean.
>
> Thanks!
**Conditional Words**: words that express a clause/causal relationship, i.e. when something occurs or when it does not (e.g. "if", "unless", "as long as", etc.)
**Modal Words**: words that express the likelihood of something occurring or not (e.g. "will", "probably", "can", etc.)
**Quantifier Words**: words that express the amounts/degree of something occurring (e.g. "all", "most", "some", etc.)
Yes, as stated by others, the 7Sage curriculum (or other LSAT resources) are where you'll go to learn these how these specific modifiers affect LSAT arguments.
And the reason it's so important to notice ANY and ALL of these conditional/modal/quantifier words is that the presence of even one of them in a stimulus or answer choice completely alters argument. In fact, throughout all LR and RC sections, the difference between a valid or invalid argument, or a correct or incorrect answer, will often hinge precisely on the presence of one of these types of words.
I hope that helps.
*slow clap*
Bookmarking. You're a legend!
5 years later your post is still helping people!!!!
Moved to the study guides section so people have an easier time finding it. :)
You can save the PDF on the Quizlet website!!
Bookmark how?! Also.. I would definitely be interested in a PDF file too, if available!!! :) @kleinstd975. Thanks!
Commenting to save this lol
Thank you! Even if your not on here anymore
https://quizlet.com/LetsHigh5. Try this. It hits all High 5 creations...You may have to create a Q account. Not sure. Kindest regards.
Thank you!!
Yo, I am just finding this. I am wishing so much good karma on you RN!!
(bump)
Just a reminder to those that just happened upon this post: the update I posted in the comments shows how I improved upon the original post.
Awesome resource, @samanthaashley92715! I love that so many people here go the extra mile to share their wisdom and labors with each other.
Out of curiosity, how do you guys use these cards to study? While I love using flashcards for vocabulary, alarm bells go off in my brain at the thought of using flash cards for logic. I fear that even attempting to memorize those rules will stunt my ability to consistently and accurately derive them on my own. In not actually knowing these rules but being able to correctly arrive at them given any LR situation, I get unambiguous feedback and validation that I genuinely understand the logic, and have the skills necessary to pull such functions from a text. I don't want to gain a false sense of security by having the connections be automatic in most cases, only to feel unconditioned and blindly subservient when faced with an inevitable curveball.
But that's just my speculation as someone who hasn't tried it! Clearly a lot of people use these advantageously. I'd love to hear about how you guys use them so successfully!
Please forgive the typos above, everyone. (Rest assured, I actually proofread my flashcards.) :-)
Also for anyone interested, I made a quizlet for conditional indicators: https://quizlet.com/164108715/conditional-indicators-drill-flash-cards/
so clutch! Thank you Montaha!!
Unmatched!
This is literally worth a million dollars. Thank you for creating and sharing.
Thank you! @ngir1293288
@kleinstd975 You should be knighted by the Queen.