Do not use the Assumption Negation Technique on all five answer choices. The
process is too time-consuming and you can usually knock out a few answer choices
without working too hard. Only apply the technique once you have narrowed the field.
Only a few types of LSAT questions allow you to double-check your answer.
Assumption questions are one of those types, and you should use the
Assumption Negation Technique to decide between Contenders or to confirm
that the answer you have chosen is correct.
The purpose of this technique is to take an Assumption question, which is
generally difficult for most students, and turn it into a Weaken question, which
is easier for most students. This technique can only be used on Assumption
questions. To apply the technique take the following steps:
1. Logically negate the answer choices under consideration.
We will discuss negation later in this section, but negating a statement
means to alter the sentence so the meaning is logically opposite of what
was originally stated. Negation largely consists of taking a “not” out of a
sentence when one is present, or putting a “not” in a sentence if one is
not present. For example, “The congressman always votes for gun
control” becomes “The congressman does not always vote for gun
control” when properly negated.
2. The negated answer choice that attacks the argument will be the correct
answer.
When the correct answer choice is negated, the answer must weaken the
argument. This will occur because of the conditional nature of an
assumption. Take a moment to examine this diagram from the
Assumption question introduction:
Conclusion (Valid)----------> Assumption (True)
The diagram represents the statement “If the conclusion is valid, then the
assumption must be true.” The contrapositive shows that when the
assumption is not true, then the conclusion is not true. Take the
contrapositive of this statement:
Assumption (True)-------> Conclusion (Valid)
The consequence of negating an assumption is that the validity of the
conclusion is called into question. In other words, when you take away
(negate) an assumption—a building block of the argument—it calls into
question the integrity of the entire reasoning structure. Accordingly,
negating the answer choices turns an Assumption question into a
Weaken question.
process is too time-consuming and you can usually knock out a few answer choices
without working too hard. Only apply the technique once you have narrowed the field.
Only a few types of LSAT questions allow you to double-check your answer.
Assumption questions are one of those types, and you should use the
Assumption Negation Technique to decide between Contenders or to confirm
that the answer you have chosen is correct.
The purpose of this technique is to take an Assumption question, which is
generally difficult for most students, and turn it into a Weaken question, which
is easier for most students. This technique can only be used on Assumption
questions. To apply the technique take the following steps:
1. Logically negate the answer choices under consideration.
We will discuss negation later in this section, but negating a statement
means to alter the sentence so the meaning is logically opposite of what
was originally stated. Negation largely consists of taking a “not” out of a
sentence when one is present, or putting a “not” in a sentence if one is
not present. For example, “The congressman always votes for gun
control” becomes “The congressman does not always vote for gun
control” when properly negated.
2. The negated answer choice that attacks the argument will be the correct
answer.
When the correct answer choice is negated, the answer must weaken the
argument. This will occur because of the conditional nature of an
assumption. Take a moment to examine this diagram from the
Assumption question introduction:
Conclusion (Valid)----------> Assumption (True)
The diagram represents the statement “If the conclusion is valid, then the
assumption must be true.” The contrapositive shows that when the
assumption is not true, then the conclusion is not true. Take the
contrapositive of this statement:
The consequence of negating an assumption is that the validity of the
conclusion is called into question. In other words, when you take away
(negate) an assumption—a building block of the argument—it calls into
question the integrity of the entire reasoning structure. Accordingly,
negating the answer choices turns an Assumption question into a
Weaken question.
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