Method of Reasoning Argument Part Question Type Review

Argument Part (AP) questions are a specific subset of Method of Reasoning
questions. In Method-AP questions, the question stem cites a specific portion of
the stimulus and then asks you to identify the role that the cited portion plays in
the structure of the argument.
The stimuli that accompany Method-AP questions tend to be more complex
than the average LSAT stimulus.
Method-AP questions often feature two conclusions—a main conclusion and
subsidiary conclusion—where the main conclusion is typically placed in the
first or second sentence, and the last sentence contains the subsidiary
conclusion. In addition, the subsidiary conclusion is often preceded by a
conclusion indicator such as “thus” or “therefore” while the main conclusion is
not prefaced by an indicator.
One trick used by the test makers in Method-AP questions is to create wrong
answers that describe parts of the argument other than the part named in the
question stem.

Method of Reasoning Question Type Review

Method of Reasoning questions require you to select the answer choice that best
describes the method used by the author to make the argument. Structurally,
Method of Reasoning questions are simply abstract Must Be True questions:
instead of identifying the facts of the argument, you must identify the logical
organization of the argument.
As part of the First Family of Questions, Method of Reasoning questions
feature the following information structure:
1. You can use only the information in the stimulus to prove the correct
answer choice.
2. Any answer choice that describes information or a situation that does
not occur in the stimulus is incorrect.
The stimulus for a Method Reasoning question will contain an argument, and
the argument can contain either valid or invalid reasoning.
You must watch for the presence of the premise and conclusion indicators
discussed in Chapter Two.
Use the Fact Test to eliminate answers in a Method Reasoning question:
If an answer choice describes an event that did not occur in the stimulus,
then that answer is incorrect.
Several types of incorrect answers regularly appear in Method of Reasoning
questions:
1. “New” Element Answers
2. Half Right, Half Wrong Answers
3. Exaggerated Answers
4. The Opposite Answer
5. The Reverse Answer

Must Be True Question Type Review

Must Be True questions require you to select an answer choice that is proven by
the information presented in the stimulus. The question format can be reduced
to, “What did you read in the stimulus, and what do you know on the basis of
that reading?”
You cannot bring in information from outside the stimulus to answer the
questions; all of the information necessary to answer the question resides in the
stimulus.
All Must Be True answer choices must pass the Fact TestTM:
The correct answer to a Must Be True question can always be proven
by referring to the facts stated in the stimulus.
If you find yourself having difficulty prephrasing an answer to a Must Be True
question, do not be concerned.
The scope of the stimulus—especially if that scope is broad—often helps
eliminate one or more of the answer choices.
You can often predict the occurrence of Must Be True questions because the
stimulus of most Must Be True questions does not contain a conclusion.
Correct Answer Types:
Paraphrased answers are answers that restate a portion of the stimulus in
different terms. When these answers mirror the stimulus, they are
correct.
Combination answers result from combining two or more statements in the
stimulus.
Incorrect Answer Types:
Could Be True answers are attractive because they can possibly occur, but
they are incorrect because they do not have to be true.
Exaggerated answers take information from the stimulus and then stretch
that information to make a broader statement that is not supported by the
stimulus.
New Information answers include information not explicitly mentioned in
the stimulus. Be careful with these answers: first examine the scope of
the stimulus to make sure the “new” information does not fall under the
umbrella of a term or concept in the stimulus. Second, examine the
answer to make sure it is not the consequence of combining stimulus elements.
The Shell Game occurs when an idea or concept is raised in the stimulus, and then a very similar idea
appears in the answer choice, but the idea is changed just enough to be incorrect but still attractive.
The Opposite answer is completely opposite of the facts of the stimulus.
The Reverse answer is attractive because it contains familiar elements from the stimulus, but the
reversed statement is incorrect because it rearranges those elements to create a new, unsupported
statement.