Junaid Akbar

LSAT Review
6/18/15
Assumptions and Weakening Questions

Assumptions:
Definition of an assumption is a forgotten premise (or an left out premise)
If it is an assumption, then by definition, its a premise that the author has left out. That means if
we add it into the argument, it would support the conclusion (like a premise).

Good V. Bad Argument

Good simply describes how well the premises support the conclusion. Just how good can the
relationship be? Until it becomes perfect, and when that happens its said that the argument is
valid.

Most arguments in the LSAT do not have a valid relationship

The more assumptions an argument makes, the weaker the support the premises give to the
conclusion and thus, the weaker the argument.

How to weaken Arguments:

You have to take away the support, the support that the premises give to the conclusion.
You must fight your urge to attack (or contradict) the premise or arrack (or contradict) the
conclusion.
Weakening questions ask you to weaken the argument. That means to weaken the relationship
between the premises and conclusion. That relationship is the support relationship. That means
you are to make the premises less supportive of the conclusion.
The trap they often give you is an answer choice that attacks the conclusion, this one you can
eliminate and is a trap!
 Dont choose the ones that are irrelevant.
Questions are hard because these are often subtle assumptions. Keep practicing to recognize
them.