Drill 5 (5lb. book of LSAT Practice Drills)

[jackiec744]

I cannot figure out how to do Drill 5: What's Your Function. Any tips? I keep getting 12 right out of 60.

[Laura Damone]

This drill is all about breaking arguments down and that can be hard at first. Start by trying to find the conclusion. What is the argument trying to convince you of? Then, look for the evidence. What pieces of text supported the conclusion. Then, think about what's left. Was this argument mounted as a contradiction to some other viewpoint? If so, that's an opposing point. Were there any facts that didn't line up with the rest of the argument? Facts that would suggest a different conclusion? If so, that's counter-evidence. Was there an introductory claim that just set up the argument? That's background.

If you're struggling with this drill, I suggest working through the rest of that section - Meet the Stimulus - then attempting drill 41 on page 246. It's another round of What's Your Function. You can find subsequent rounds beginning on pages 387 and 883. It's such a foundational skill that it bears repeating!