LSAT Reading Comprehension: Inference, Implication, and Authorial Stance

Supported Inference

A conclusion logically derived from a passage that is strongly backed by the text's claims.

Inference

The act of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true.

Implication

What a statement commits someone to, even if not explicitly stated.

Under-inferring

Refusing to conclude anything not explicitly stated in the text.

Over-inferring

Adding assumptions not justified by the text.

Inference task

Identifying the goal of an inference question based on its stem.

Evaluative adjectives

Descriptive words that indicate the author's appraisal of a subject, e.g., 'flawed' or 'insightful'.

Concession-and-pivot structure

A rhetorical pattern where an author acknowledges a point before offering criticism or a contrasting idea.

Quantifiers

Words that indicate the extent of a claim, such as 'some,' 'many,' 'often,' and 'rarely'.

Textual support

Specific evidence from the passage that backs up an inference.

Author's attitude

The author's evaluative stance towards a topic or claim.

Author's perspective

The author's broader viewpoint, priorities and assumptions regarding the topic.

Distancing verbs

Verbs that suggest the author is skeptical or not fully endorsing a claim, e.g., 'claims' or 'asserts.'

Strength and Scope

A framework used to evaluate answer choices for inference questions, focusing on how strong or broad they are.

Hedging

Using cautious language that indicates uncertainty, e.g., 'may' or 'suggests.'

Contrast markers

Words such as 'however' or 'but' that indicate a shift in the author's argument or point of view.

Evaluative language

Descriptive phrases that express the author's judgment or assessment of another view.

Misattributing a view

Assigning the wrong perspective or attitude to the author versus another party.

Overgeneralizing from examples

Making broader claims based on single instances presented in the text.

Voice separation

Identifying the difference between the author's views and the views of others presented in the text.

Persuasion vs. Evidence

Distinguishing between the author's reasoning based on evidence and persuasive language.

Cautionary language

Words that suggest hesitance or warn against certainty.

Evaluative verbs

Verbs that indicate approval or disapproval, e.g., 'endorses' or 'criticizes'.

Framing perspective

How the author organizes the debate or emphasizes particular issues.

Tone calibration

Matching the intensity of language in answer choices with the passage’s tone.

Methodological stance

The author's approach to research or argumentation that informs their perspective.

Common traps in inference questions

Common pitfalls that include overgeneralization, misattributing views, or ignoring qualifiers.