I am Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. And since I'm Harvey Birdman, I always take the case.Any case. And because I always take any case, any LSAT LR stimulus could reasonably be my closing statement before a jury. This is plausible (because I am Harvey Birdman). For all LR stimuli. Wait are we talking about LR question stems?
Wow, this lesson is exactly what I need to revisit right now. Sincerely, thank you for bringing my attention back to this lesson with your reply to my comment.
Was there a separate lesson on Evaluate type questions that I missed or was it not mentioned since it's similar to strengthen and weaken type questions?
I know this is unoriginal, but I will get J.Y. tattooed on my left cheek (let your imagination decide which cheeks I'm talking about) if I get a 175 on the LSAT
This was super helpful! Now that I'm done with the LR section, going on to the LG section, what do other 7sagers recommend to keep up with LR? I'm not ready to take a PT yet, but do y'all recommend doing LR drills every now and then when going through LG - and doing LG and LR drills while finishing up RC? Any advice would be appreciated!
I'm going to make a list from top to bottom of which LR questions are the toughest for me to the ones that are the easiest, then I'm going to drill them and blind review until they become second nature. I'll probably do a few drill sets daily while keeping up with the curriculum.
I'm wondering that too! I think it would be best to keep drilling LR just for more and more practice, but I also worry about whether I'm taking away time from practicing RC for example. I think ultimately I'm planning on doing at least one drill for one question type per day while I make my way through LG and RC.
Thank you so much, will keep practicing over and over again but I feel myself getting stronger, reaching conclusions much quicker. It's daunting to use this process as fluidly as is described above because it forces me to depend on my abilities and not just memorising a bunch of skills but I can feel my improvement, and we keep moving!!!!
If anyone still is looking at this, I just copy pasted into a Google Doc you can print: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNXgBiEz_bv7ZtMILukKWOQSrqGpwlG0q-aFkyhZ-zA/edit?usp=sharing
Great summary! Very helpful. Just wish if there was one more wrap-up for the links, so that I can wrap up here easily instead of clicking thru the link lol
Evaluate questions are a combination of strengthen and weaken questions in that the right answer, when answered in one extreme (sometimes the responses are just a yes/no) would either weaken/strengthen the argument and in the other extreme weaken/strengthen it. Hope this helps
Question stem key words for evaluate questions are: the answer to which of the following questions (many of the ACs for Evaluate questions are worded as questions), most helpful to know/relevant to evaluating, evaluate + the argument/the conclusion. Also, @kermit750 is absolutely right in terms of how to approach this question type. From what I have been reading, Evaluate questions tend to be pretty rare. This is why many courses don't devote so much time to this particular question type. Going back to @kermit750's point, as long as you're comfortable with weakening/strengthening questions types, you will do well with Evaluate questions. If you have access to PTs, I would make a problem set with evaluate questions and try them out so that you can get a better feel for them. Hope this helps!
This was really eye opening to me. If all LR stems are related, why read the stem first? I've read several reports saying that reading and understanding the stimulus first should be the priority. Once you understand it, then address the question stem. I can't help but agree. Read and understand the stimulus. From there, you can read the stem and know exactly how and where to attack or support the stimulus.
I like to know what I'm doing first, and that is not necessary to say it's confined to the inflexible approaches I have formulated for myself according to the certain types of Qs, bc, like you know and I agree, that LR Q stems are largely interchangeable. I also agree that we should strive to understand the stimulus as the priority, however, knowing what I'm doing first for me doesn't really take away that priority but enhance it. I can either read the stimulus try to understand it without knowing what's coming at me or I can read it understand it with a focus and personally I prefer the latter.
The way I see it is like this; we are all training to be the best athletes that can compete in a variety of physical activities such as running, swimming, climbing, biking, etc. Sure, they all require a degree of physical flexibility, and muscle strength (understanding the stimulus priority) but the techniques and gears to carry out the tasks although having overlapping similarities nonetheless aren't exactly the same. In others words, I can either drive my SUV that's loaded up all my traning gears so no matter what is coming at me, I can handle it. Or I can just pick out my running shoes or swimming suit if I know running and swimming would be exactly I'll be competing.
That being translated on the test for me is that my focus will somewhat shift according to what the Q stem is asking me to do. When I know I'll be weakening an argument, my critical thinking sensor is super on I read it with a mentality and focus in sensing the holes in the argument. If it's a MBT or MSS, my focus will shift more to analyze the relationships among the premises/info given and try to push out inferences but I don't really need to be so critical about it cuz I'm just finding some support or making inferences. But if it's a MP or AP questions, I completely turn off my critical sensor because it's a waste of time and brain power to critically analyze a stimulus at all times when all I need to do is to lable the MP or an argument part. In those situations I don't care whether the premises support the conclusion, I don't care what are the assumptions being made in reaching the conclusion, I just need to know what the conclusion is that's all.
The LSAT is a very draining test (physically and mentally) developing a strategy that effectively optimizes ones brain power is crucial to success in my opinion. Of course, this is purely a subjective assessment so there is no 'right or wrong' way of doing things. (Whatever floats your boat as fixeddice put) in fact, I've heard of plenty of ppl do just fine without reading the Q stems first and if that's you, great, all the power to you and keeping doing what works for 'you'. Since you raised a question concerning why reading the Q stems first if most LR Q stems are interrelated, here is my two cents. Take it as a different perspective if you will.
I used to be a stimulus first guy, but I transitioned to stem first because it is honestly easier. I can memorize the stem (question type) better than the argument in its entirety. If I know it is a flaw question beforehand, I can find the flaw faster than if I read the argument trying to mentally keep track of any assumptions, conditionality, argument parts et cetera.
Different strokes for different folks. However, I recommend taking a crack at both approaches before making an absolute decision.
I used to think stimulus first made the absolute best sense. After using 7sage, however, my perspective has drastically changed.
Whatever floats your boat, really. Some of us take comfort in knowing whether the thing being analyzed is a valid argument, a flawed argument, or a set of facts. Others like to attack the stimulus first like the bloodthirsty LSAT beasts they are.
I guess there's really no right approach as long as you get the right answer. Personally, when I read the stem first, I find myself going back and forth between the stem and stimulus and waste valuable time. When I take the time to understand the stimulus first, and find any flaws or assumptions that may exist on my own, then read the stem, I find I am able to predict the answer more quickly. If not, I am able to go back to the stimulus exactly where the stem is trying to point you. It's really a matter of preference.
It’s going ok. I’m honestly still finding it hard to do the games without the explanations. If I can offer one piece of advice it would be not to delay fool proofing and logic games in general. I avoided logic games like the plague for months because they honestly scared me. That was a big mistake because it just gave me less time overall. It’s best to start logic games earlier rather than later. Everyone says it’s the easiest section to perfect and I hope that’s true. I wish you luck and don’t hesitate to reach out.
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71 comments
"No one pops pills for fun... wait, never mind"
I am Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. And since I'm Harvey Birdman, I always take the case. Any case. And because I always take any case, any LSAT LR stimulus could reasonably be my closing statement before a jury. This is plausible (because I am Harvey Birdman). For all LR stimuli. Wait are we talking about LR question stems?
And the gimmick of the year award goes to....
Wow, this lesson is exactly what I need to revisit right now. Sincerely, thank you for bringing my attention back to this lesson with your reply to my comment.
Ahh, no problem!
I hate when I have to read 😂
realest comment on this forum. Wait, are we going into the right field? 😂
@Slippin-Jimmy realest question on this forum.
#help
Was there a separate lesson on Evaluate type questions that I missed or was it not mentioned since it's similar to strengthen and weaken type questions?
It was. It's because they all revolve around causation
.
I know this is unoriginal, but I will get J.Y. tattooed on my left cheek (let your imagination decide which cheeks I'm talking about) if I get a 175 on the LSAT
Is that the only reason you would get J.Y. tattooed on your left cheek and do you currently have J.Y. tattooed on your left cheek?
@connorswanson37 what 😭
This was super helpful! Now that I'm done with the LR section, going on to the LG section, what do other 7sagers recommend to keep up with LR? I'm not ready to take a PT yet, but do y'all recommend doing LR drills every now and then when going through LG - and doing LG and LR drills while finishing up RC? Any advice would be appreciated!
#help (added by Admin)
I'm going to make a list from top to bottom of which LR questions are the toughest for me to the ones that are the easiest, then I'm going to drill them and blind review until they become second nature. I'll probably do a few drill sets daily while keeping up with the curriculum.
I'm wondering that too! I think it would be best to keep drilling LR just for more and more practice, but I also worry about whether I'm taking away time from practicing RC for example. I think ultimately I'm planning on doing at least one drill for one question type per day while I make my way through LG and RC.
this is super helpful!
Super helpful, thank you so much!!
I'm going to name my first kid JY if I get a high LSAT score
I will get a JY tattoo if I reach my dream score of 176. A little ankle tat, one that I can cover with a sock. Don't want to go overboard here.
How's J.Y. Rhoades doing these days?
I will change my name to JY if I get a 175
Thank you so much, will keep practicing over and over again but I feel myself getting stronger, reaching conclusions much quicker. It's daunting to use this process as fluidly as is described above because it forces me to depend on my abilities and not just memorising a bunch of skills but I can feel my improvement, and we keep moving!!!!
Can't thank you enough. What a ride it has been. 70 days later and here I am.
We got this
Is there a document that we can print with this information? #admin #help
If anyone still is looking at this, I just copy pasted into a Google Doc you can print: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNXgBiEz_bv7ZtMILukKWOQSrqGpwlG0q-aFkyhZ-zA/edit?usp=sharing
Hi there,
Sorry, we don't have a document that we can print with the information in this lesson.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
CTRL+P
Danke!!
IT HAS BEEN A LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG.... ROAD LOL
THANK YOU JY!!!!!
WE DID IT!! Well, 1 section of "it"
LG time
hello
Great summary! Very helpful. Just wish if there was one more wrap-up for the links, so that I can wrap up here easily instead of clicking thru the link lol
what are evaluate questions? am I missing something?
#help (Added by Admin)
Seconded #help
Evaluate questions are a combination of strengthen and weaken questions in that the right answer, when answered in one extreme (sometimes the responses are just a yes/no) would either weaken/strengthen the argument and in the other extreme weaken/strengthen it. Hope this helps
But how would I identify an evaluate question on the test.... #help
Question stem key words for evaluate questions are: the answer to which of the following questions (many of the ACs for Evaluate questions are worded as questions), most helpful to know/relevant to evaluating, evaluate + the argument/the conclusion. Also, @kermit750 is absolutely right in terms of how to approach this question type. From what I have been reading, Evaluate questions tend to be pretty rare. This is why many courses don't devote so much time to this particular question type. Going back to @kermit750's point, as long as you're comfortable with weakening/strengthening questions types, you will do well with Evaluate questions. If you have access to PTs, I would make a problem set with evaluate questions and try them out so that you can get a better feel for them. Hope this helps!
This was really eye opening to me. If all LR stems are related, why read the stem first? I've read several reports saying that reading and understanding the stimulus first should be the priority. Once you understand it, then address the question stem. I can't help but agree. Read and understand the stimulus. From there, you can read the stem and know exactly how and where to attack or support the stimulus.
#help (Added by Admin)
lmaaaao guess im a "blood thirsty LSAT beast"
I like to know what I'm doing first, and that is not necessary to say it's confined to the inflexible approaches I have formulated for myself according to the certain types of Qs, bc, like you know and I agree, that LR Q stems are largely interchangeable. I also agree that we should strive to understand the stimulus as the priority, however, knowing what I'm doing first for me doesn't really take away that priority but enhance it. I can either read the stimulus try to understand it without knowing what's coming at me or I can read it understand it with a focus and personally I prefer the latter.
The way I see it is like this; we are all training to be the best athletes that can compete in a variety of physical activities such as running, swimming, climbing, biking, etc. Sure, they all require a degree of physical flexibility, and muscle strength (understanding the stimulus priority) but the techniques and gears to carry out the tasks although having overlapping similarities nonetheless aren't exactly the same. In others words, I can either drive my SUV that's loaded up all my traning gears so no matter what is coming at me, I can handle it. Or I can just pick out my running shoes or swimming suit if I know running and swimming would be exactly I'll be competing.
That being translated on the test for me is that my focus will somewhat shift according to what the Q stem is asking me to do. When I know I'll be weakening an argument, my critical thinking sensor is super on I read it with a mentality and focus in sensing the holes in the argument. If it's a MBT or MSS, my focus will shift more to analyze the relationships among the premises/info given and try to push out inferences but I don't really need to be so critical about it cuz I'm just finding some support or making inferences. But if it's a MP or AP questions, I completely turn off my critical sensor because it's a waste of time and brain power to critically analyze a stimulus at all times when all I need to do is to lable the MP or an argument part. In those situations I don't care whether the premises support the conclusion, I don't care what are the assumptions being made in reaching the conclusion, I just need to know what the conclusion is that's all.
The LSAT is a very draining test (physically and mentally) developing a strategy that effectively optimizes ones brain power is crucial to success in my opinion. Of course, this is purely a subjective assessment so there is no 'right or wrong' way of doing things. (Whatever floats your boat as fixeddice put) in fact, I've heard of plenty of ppl do just fine without reading the Q stems first and if that's you, great, all the power to you and keeping doing what works for 'you'. Since you raised a question concerning why reading the Q stems first if most LR Q stems are interrelated, here is my two cents. Take it as a different perspective if you will.
I used to be a stimulus first guy, but I transitioned to stem first because it is honestly easier. I can memorize the stem (question type) better than the argument in its entirety. If I know it is a flaw question beforehand, I can find the flaw faster than if I read the argument trying to mentally keep track of any assumptions, conditionality, argument parts et cetera.
Different strokes for different folks. However, I recommend taking a crack at both approaches before making an absolute decision.
I used to think stimulus first made the absolute best sense. After using 7sage, however, my perspective has drastically changed.
Whatever floats your boat, really. Some of us take comfort in knowing whether the thing being analyzed is a valid argument, a flawed argument, or a set of facts. Others like to attack the stimulus first like the bloodthirsty LSAT beasts they are.
I guess there's really no right approach as long as you get the right answer. Personally, when I read the stem first, I find myself going back and forth between the stem and stimulus and waste valuable time. When I take the time to understand the stimulus first, and find any flaws or assumptions that may exist on my own, then read the stem, I find I am able to predict the answer more quickly. If not, I am able to go back to the stimulus exactly where the stem is trying to point you. It's really a matter of preference.
lol
I'm about to start logic games and I'm kind of terrified.
how was it ?! im in the same boat ... ive even been purposely delaying :(
It’s going ok. I’m honestly still finding it hard to do the games without the explanations. If I can offer one piece of advice it would be not to delay fool proofing and logic games in general. I avoided logic games like the plague for months because they honestly scared me. That was a big mistake because it just gave me less time overall. It’s best to start logic games earlier rather than later. Everyone says it’s the easiest section to perfect and I hope that’s true. I wish you luck and don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for sharing ! I will keep this in mind. Good luck to you as well!
What are evaluate question?
THANK YOU!! One step closer to mastering the test!
JY you are the fuckin man
JY is god!