Sufficient Assumptions destroying me

Comments

• ENTJ Alum Inactive ⭐

  April 2014 3658 karma

  I would say sufficient assumption question types are probably the most mechanical LR questions you'll see on the LSAT. It's literally all about plugging in the correct missing premise to validate the argument. Understand the logic behind these questions and apply your knowledge via practice!
• Archieboots Alum Member

  April 2014 155 karma

  Can you give us an example for a question you struggled with? And talk us through your process to find the right answer?
• k the land surveryor Alum Member

  April 2014 49 karma

  I am having trouble both with the translations and applying the logic. I think I just need to practice the translations more and then really actually master the valid and invalid inferences
• ENTJ Alum Inactive ⭐

  April 2014 3658 karma

  There are tons of worksheets throughout the course that help you hone your ability to mechanically translate. Check this one out:
  
  http://7sage.com/lesson/quiz-on-valid-invalid-argument-forms-with-translations/
• Archieboots Alum Member

  April 2014 155 karma

  Yes definitely - translate, translate, translate and practice until you get the translation right. I will definitely help you see the "missing link" in NA.
• anne2hoang Free Trial Member

  May 2014 edited May 2014 226 karma

  Assume the argument is incomplete, and then find the missing piece that will make the conclusion true (and unavoidable). In other words, find the logic leap or gap in reasoning that will justify the conclusion. What makes the argument “win”? Basically "fill in the hole." Sufficient Assumption answers are usually the big, bold and strong answer choice.
• laestelle2009 Alum Member

  June 2014 96 karma

  SA and PSA are a problem for me too, lucikly you guys have answered the questions i had about SA but is the objective of the PSA questions the same as the SA questions?
• 2 Likes

  AlenaLSAT Alum Member

  June 2014 182 karma

  In assumption questions, most of the time, the gap is between the predicate of the conclusion and a premise. For example, It will rain tonight because the sky is overcast. Here the gap is between "will rain" and "the sky is overcast." The sufficient assumption is "It has always rained when the sky is overcast," since if this is true, then the conclusion follows. Necessary assumption will be "It has sometimes rained when the sky is overcast," since if this is not true (negated), the conclusion will not follow. Sufficient assumption gives us certainty about what will follow, and hence it will usually contain words like always, never, constantly, etc.
• 1 Like

  CFC152436 Alum Member

  June 2014 edited June 2014 284 karma

  Laestelle - essentially, but not exactly. SA, PSA, and strengthen questions are all asking you to make the argument better (i.e. close the assumption gap between the premise and the conclusion). SA questions close the gap completely - this means that when you add the sufficient assumption to the stimulus, the argument becomes a valid argument. PSA questions come as close as possible to closing the gap completely without actually closing it completely. In other words, when you add the correct PSA answer choice to the stimulus, the argument is really close to a valid argument, but falls just short.
  
  The minor difference between SA and PSA questions doesn't usually make that big of a difference in how you answer the questions. That withstanding, knowing and understanding the distinction can still be helpful.
  
  JY explains it really well (and certainly better than me) in the lessons if you want to review!
• chrijani7 Alum Member

  June 2014 827 karma

  @CFC, just wanted to say thanks for explaining the difference between SA and PSA. Never fully understood it, until I read your response and it just clicked! so thanks !