Some Notes About Parallel Reasoning Questions on the LSAT

Introducing Parallel Reasoning

Parallel reasoning is a logical concept that is frequently tested on the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). It is a type of logical reasoning question that requires you to find the argument that is most similar in structure to the one presented in the stimulus. The idea is that if two arguments have the same structure, then they are logically parallel and should lead to the same conclusion.

Attacking the question

In a parallel reasoning question, you will be presented with a stimulus that contains an argument. This argument will typically be structured in a specific way, such as an argument from analogy or an argument from causation. Your task is to find the answer choice that has the same structure as the stimulus. The answer choices will contain different arguments, and your job is to determine which one is logically parallel to the stimulus.

To identify a parallel argument, you need to focus on the logical structure of the argument rather than the specific content. This means that you should ignore the specific details of the argument and instead focus on how the argument is constructed. Look for similarities in the way that premises are presented, the type of evidence that is used, and the logical connections between the premises and the conclusion.

Once you have identified the logical structure of the argument in the stimulus, you can start to evaluate the answer choices. Eliminate any answer choices that are clearly not parallel in structure to the stimulus. Then, compare the remaining answer choices to the stimulus and identify the one that has the most similar structure.

It is important to note that even if the specific content of the argument is different in the stimulus and the answer choice, they can still be logically parallel. The key is to focus on the logical structure of the argument rather than the specific details.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, parallel reasoning is a logical concept on the LSAT that requires you to identify arguments that have the same structure as the stimulus. By focusing on the logical structure of the argument and ignoring the specific content, you can identify the answer choice that is logically parallel to the stimulus. Mastering parallel reasoning is an essential skill for success on the LSAT.