LSAT Reading Comprehension: Drawing What the Text Warrants

Supported Inference

A conclusion guaranteed or overwhelmingly justified by the claims and evidence in a passage.

Logical Consequence

A statement that directly follows from presented claims, often indicated by firm language.

Causal Claims

Statements that suggest one factor leads to another; requires careful interpretation to avoid misinterpretation.

Restatement

Paraphrasing an idea at the correct level of generality without going beyond the original text.

Structural Inference

Drawing conclusions based on how arguments are constructed within the passage.

Evaluation of Claims

Determining the validity of claims based on the text without relying on outside knowledge.

Scope

The range of applicability of an author’s statement, including the population, time period, or context.

Modality

The degree of certainty conveyed in a passage, indicated by words like 'must', 'may', or 'likely'.

Anchor Statements

Key sentences in a passage that provide the foundation for deriving inferences.

Translation of Statements

Identifying and clarifying the logical relationships between ideas in the passage.

Burden of Proof Mindset

The requirement that inferences must be directly supported by evidence in the passage.

Common Mistakes in Inference Questions

Misinterpretations often include overreaching in certainty or introducing new concepts not present in the text.

Attitude in Reading Comprehension

The author’s evaluative orientation towards an idea, expressed through specific language choices.

Perspective in Reading Comprehension

The author’s overall viewpoint or purpose regarding the topic discussed in the passage.

Evaluative Language

Specific words and phrases that reflect the author’s tone, such as 'compelling' or 'misleading'.

Pivot Words

Words like 'however' or 'although' that indicate a shift in the author’s stance.

Tone Direction

The overall attitude expressed in the passage, categorized as positive, negative, or neutral.

Tone Intensity

The strength of the author’s expressed attitude, ranging from mild to strong.

Concession

Acknowledging an opposing view or argument while maintaining a critical position.

Framing of Debate

The way a discussion is structured, which can influence the perception of the arguments presented.

Critical Assessment

Evaluating claims based on their validity and the evidence provided in the text.

Subtle Criticism

A nuanced negative evaluation of an idea that lacks overt hostility.

Language of Evaluation

The specific terms authors use to express approval, skepticism, or criticism.

Separating Voices

Differentiating the author's views from the perspectives of others mentioned in the passage.

Heat in Language

Identifying emotionally charged words that signal strong attitudes or opinions.

Typical Inference Question Patterns

Commonly seen formats that ask about authors' inferred positions or implied conclusions.

Attitude vs. Inference

Differentiating between understanding the author's stance and extracting supported conclusions from the text.