Logic Games without diagramming. Forum
- CardozoLaw09
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
^^ (..too lazy to do the quote thing)
You customized your diagrams? Can you give an example of how or what you did exactly? Personally I've always thought that the methods that we've learnt are as compressed and efficient as they can get. But I guess not!
You customized your diagrams? Can you give an example of how or what you did exactly? Personally I've always thought that the methods that we've learnt are as compressed and efficient as they can get. But I guess not!
- The Platypus
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Yes, they're attending cooley law school.hblake wrote:Anyone do this?
- BallHog
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Probably because the diagrams you were doing before sucked.hblake wrote:You were joking at first. This doesn't sound like a joke. So now that you're serious, you should know I'm doing them without diagrams and am improving on my accuracy. Yes it's slower at first, but accuracy first eh?PeanutsNJam wrote:Srs: You're question is no different from "Can we do RC without knowing English?"
- cc.celina
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Well, I didn't stray TOO far away from the methods. Except on sequencing games - I'm not sure how exactly LGB diagrammed them, but I remember it not working for me at all. My sequencing diagrams were basically just clouds of letters with lines connecting them, and none of those silly carrot marks.CardozoLaw09 wrote:^^ (..too lazy to do the quote thing)
You customized your diagrams? Can you give an example of how or what you did exactly? Personally I've always thought that the methods that we've learnt are as compressed and efficient as they can get. But I guess not!
Beyond that, nothing really drastic. Just small changes in notation that made more intuitive sense to me. I'm pretty sure I also borrowed a couple of Velocity's ways to diagram stuff at some point. If the current diagramming system works for you, stick with it.
- CardozoLaw09
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
True.cc.celina wrote:Well, I didn't stray TOO far away from the methods. Except on sequencing games - I'm not sure how exactly LGB diagrammed them, but I remember it not working for me at all. My sequencing diagrams were basically just clouds of letters with lines connecting them, and none of those silly carrot marks.CardozoLaw09 wrote:^^ (..too lazy to do the quote thing)
You customized your diagrams? Can you give an example of how or what you did exactly? Personally I've always thought that the methods that we've learnt are as compressed and efficient as they can get. But I guess not!
Beyond that, nothing really drastic. Just small changes in notation that made more intuitive sense to me. I'm pretty sure I also borrowed a couple of Velocity's ways to diagram stuff at some point. If the current diagramming system works for you, stick with it.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Yeah I agree with cc completely (also pretty sure she got like a 178 fwiw). I learned to do the in depth, somewhat unnecessarily detailed until I was doing really awesome with those, which eventually led to me being able to diagram some things less than others, or customizing my diagrams in a way that made sense to me. I doubt I followed the methods on my real LSAT in terms of what the diagram physically looked like but I definitely used the underlying concepts gleaned from long periods of time spent following the diagramming guidelines strictly.
- PeanutsNJam
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
I studied the Powerscore LG Bible and made my own variations of the diagramming techniques. I make up the diagram as I go and I don't categorize games such as "binary" or "grouping"; after doing a couple games it becomes somewhat intuitive. I consistently get -0 to -2 on the games timed (-0 more often than -2).
I'm not going to make sweeping generalizations like saying "you can't get -0 in 35 mins without diagrams" (although I don't believe anybody who isn't autistic or something similar can do that). I'll just say "it's substantially easier to get -0 in 35 mins with diagrams than it is without".
If your average TLS lsat taker (average being like a 170 guy) tried to get a -10 on a LG section, he'd finish the section in 15 minutes. Just do the first 15 questions (usually much easier than the later questions).
There is no humblebragging going on, because there is nothing to brag about.
It just sounds like this guy is looking for:
- An easier way to do LG games
- A way to avoid studying and learning diagramming techniques and its usefulness
I'm not going to make sweeping generalizations like saying "you can't get -0 in 35 mins without diagrams" (although I don't believe anybody who isn't autistic or something similar can do that). I'll just say "it's substantially easier to get -0 in 35 mins with diagrams than it is without".
If your average TLS lsat taker (average being like a 170 guy) tried to get a -10 on a LG section, he'd finish the section in 15 minutes. Just do the first 15 questions (usually much easier than the later questions).
There is no humblebragging going on, because there is nothing to brag about.
It just sounds like this guy is looking for:
- An easier way to do LG games
- A way to avoid studying and learning diagramming techniques and its usefulness
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- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:31 am
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
You know, not having read Powerscore and much else other than the TLS articles, stickies, and various experiences, it hasn't really got stuck in my brain that I need to diagram everything. Now that I'm getting perfect scores on untimed tests, it is time to look at what is necessary to keep those scores when on a time limit.
It was interesting to consider what Celina wrote about minimizing brain power or stress on LGs to conserve energy for the other parts of the test. Of course, everyone probably customizes their diagrams.
Will report back if I have experiences that deem diagrams unnecessary, or if, like the test says, "in answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw a rough diagram." In that case I will be sure to relate what I find.
Can someone answer this question?: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 6&t=190528
It was interesting to consider what Celina wrote about minimizing brain power or stress on LGs to conserve energy for the other parts of the test. Of course, everyone probably customizes their diagrams.
Will report back if I have experiences that deem diagrams unnecessary, or if, like the test says, "in answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw a rough diagram." In that case I will be sure to relate what I find.
Can someone answer this question?: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 6&t=190528
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
I see.PeanutsNJam wrote:I studied the Powerscore LG Bible and made my own variations of the diagramming techniques.
You know, math doesn't require pictures.I'm not going to make sweeping generalizations like saying "you can't get -0 in 35 mins without diagrams" (although I don't believe anybody who isn't autistic or something similar can do that). I'll just say "it's substantially easier to get -0 in 35 mins with diagrams than it is without".
Average is 170 eh?If your average TLS lsat taker (average being like a 170 guy) tried to get a -10 on a LG section, he'd finish the section in 15 minutes. Just do the first 15 questions (usually much easier than the later questions).
I'm the OP you realize. And I don't personally know anyone who studies like I do on anything. That's why I come on the internet, to find people who both work like dogs and think outside the box.There is no humblebragging going on, because there is nothing to brag about.
It just sounds like this guy is looking for:
- An easier way to do LG games
- A way to avoid studying and learning diagramming techniques and its usefulness
- cc.celina
- Posts: 601
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Please read the powerscore bible. No wonder your diagrams aren't helping you. You can get it HERE for only $34, and if you are REALLY low on cash, buy it used for $18. Very small investment for huge improvement in your LG score.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
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Last edited by hblake on Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
I do this and then will sometimes write out a few scenarios depending on the question...far from the crazy detailed diagrams some use, but yet far from doing it entirely in my head. I really don't think that method is feasible with the timeframe you're forced to work with. OP, this topic is really just a failed humblebrag. No one cares if you can do them in your head because there's no reason to. Especially when you're going -10 doing so.tomwatts wrote:I did have a student once who drew an initial setup and then nothing else. He'd just draw the list of numbers or the groups, and then he'd do the rest in his head. And he got most of them right.
I mean, I had a few students who tried to do this sort of thing. He was the only one who didn't crash and burn doing it.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Bgibbs wrote: OP, this topic is really just a failed humblebrag. No one cares if you can do them in your head because there's no reason to. Especially when you're going -10 doing so.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Diagrams aren't helping me. Hard to improve when they look like everyone else's, and when I look at them during the test I get the sense I'm distracting myself more than working out a problem.Bgibbs wrote: I do this and then will sometimes write out a few scenarios depending on the question...far from the crazy detailed diagrams some use, but yet far from doing it entirely in my head. I really don't think that method is feasible with the timeframe you're forced to work with. OP, this topic is really just a failed humblebrag. No one cares if you can do them in your head because there's no reason to. Especially when you're going -10 doing so.
Right now I'm kind of burned out, but one thing I noticed when I started doing them mentally was all simple stuff I had been missing. So if there are diagrams that help internalize the rules I'll use them, because with or without diagrams it's those rules that make the logic flow, not lines and arrows.
- Clearly
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Alright. Chiming in. Gonna try to be helpful.
1) More so than any other chapter ever, untimed logic games are useless after the first week. LR and RC if you don't get it, you don't get it. LG if you don't get it, you try it until it works. Logic games sections DON'T test your ability to process logic. They test your ability to work efficiently. Untimed, ANYONE, trained or not, my grandma for instance, could 100% LG.
As far as doing them in your head, I would say its absurd, however a great many questions CAN be answered in your head, after doing a few with a diagram. I would say 1-2 per game I never even move my pencil for. This is after I have done a few directive questions (If...) using my diagram.. By this point I usually have the rules memorized, and will usually see either A) A question in which my previous work rules out 4 answer choices, or conclusively shows one to be correct or B) A question so simple that I can work thru it with my memorized rules quickly. This happens at least once in practically every LG.
As to your thinking, you're crazy. A diagram is supposed to be a simplistic representation of your THOUGHTS on the game. You chart it to organize the work your brain is doing. If your not diagramming on paper, you are literally just imagining your diagram internally. One way or another you need a system to organize the elements, be it on paper, or in your head. Your paper diagram should literally just aid you in organizing the elements. It's NOT a formula, you don't punch in the rules and elements, and have it spit out the answers. I think you are disappointed with diagrams because you think it's a magic illustration that should solve these things for you. It's an organizational tool...To organize your thoughts...the same thoughts you would be having without a diagram, just with no where to put them.
Your options are
Use your brain and use paper
or use your brain.
If you're thinking taking the paper out of the equation will make a difference, I suggest you look at the other element in question. You don't know how to solve logic games. It's okay, many many people struggle with them. Learn how to think about them, then learn how to efficiently display those thoughts on paper (to make thinking about them easier), then learn how to answer the questions about those thoughts. stop looking at diagrams to do more than what they are there to do...Help your brain remember what it's doing, Provide a place to test what it's thinking, and most importantly, provide a record of whats been done that will almost always answer a second question you didn't even realize you were working on yet.
An analogy if you will. You are a carpenter with a hammer, who doesn't know how to build a house. You seem to think that if you didn't have the hammer, you'd be better at building houses.
Anyone smart enough to do LG without a diagram, is also smart enough to know he should use a diagram anyway.
Good luck brother, I hope I wasn't too cruel here, I'm really not trying to be. I just wanted to put diagramming in context here.
1) More so than any other chapter ever, untimed logic games are useless after the first week. LR and RC if you don't get it, you don't get it. LG if you don't get it, you try it until it works. Logic games sections DON'T test your ability to process logic. They test your ability to work efficiently. Untimed, ANYONE, trained or not, my grandma for instance, could 100% LG.
As far as doing them in your head, I would say its absurd, however a great many questions CAN be answered in your head, after doing a few with a diagram. I would say 1-2 per game I never even move my pencil for. This is after I have done a few directive questions (If...) using my diagram.. By this point I usually have the rules memorized, and will usually see either A) A question in which my previous work rules out 4 answer choices, or conclusively shows one to be correct or B) A question so simple that I can work thru it with my memorized rules quickly. This happens at least once in practically every LG.
As to your thinking, you're crazy. A diagram is supposed to be a simplistic representation of your THOUGHTS on the game. You chart it to organize the work your brain is doing. If your not diagramming on paper, you are literally just imagining your diagram internally. One way or another you need a system to organize the elements, be it on paper, or in your head. Your paper diagram should literally just aid you in organizing the elements. It's NOT a formula, you don't punch in the rules and elements, and have it spit out the answers. I think you are disappointed with diagrams because you think it's a magic illustration that should solve these things for you. It's an organizational tool...To organize your thoughts...the same thoughts you would be having without a diagram, just with no where to put them.
Your options are
Use your brain and use paper
or use your brain.
If you're thinking taking the paper out of the equation will make a difference, I suggest you look at the other element in question. You don't know how to solve logic games. It's okay, many many people struggle with them. Learn how to think about them, then learn how to efficiently display those thoughts on paper (to make thinking about them easier), then learn how to answer the questions about those thoughts. stop looking at diagrams to do more than what they are there to do...Help your brain remember what it's doing, Provide a place to test what it's thinking, and most importantly, provide a record of whats been done that will almost always answer a second question you didn't even realize you were working on yet.
An analogy if you will. You are a carpenter with a hammer, who doesn't know how to build a house. You seem to think that if you didn't have the hammer, you'd be better at building houses.
Anyone smart enough to do LG without a diagram, is also smart enough to know he should use a diagram anyway.
Good luck brother, I hope I wasn't too cruel here, I'm really not trying to be. I just wanted to put diagramming in context here.
- espressocream
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:51 am
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
What Stefan said.
There will be some questions where you don't need to diagram, but those jump out at you after
a lot of drilling. You're really just wasting time by trying to circumvent the
grunt work that comes with studying for this test.
Use diagrams and end this thread. Please.
There will be some questions where you don't need to diagram, but those jump out at you after
a lot of drilling. You're really just wasting time by trying to circumvent the
grunt work that comes with studying for this test.
Use diagrams and end this thread. Please.
- Honey_Badger
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:57 pm
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
+1,000espressocream wrote:What Stefan said.
There will be some questions where you don't need to diagram, but those jump out at you after
a lot of drilling. You're really just wasting time by trying to circumvent the
grunt work that comes with studying for this test.
Use diagrams and end this thread. Please.
Why don't you try different methods of diagramming, OP? (i.e.: Velocity-very few "forms" of diagramming, and apparently helpful to many people on this board.
If you aren;t willing to try everything out there, go ahead and do it in your head.
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- PeanutsNJam
- Posts: 4670
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:57 pm
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Math doesn't require diagrams?
Dude, in LG, diagrams is work. Try to do Calc 2 or 3 level math in your head. You can't. You have to write it down. If math = LG, then writing shit down = diagramming.
Just to illustrate the point: a "box" that says something like "A must be in the same group as B" isn't part of a formula; it's a notation to help you remember. Now, if you can perfectly remember all the rules after reading them once, then more power to you (Mike Ross can!). However, if you're a mere mortal, it's easier to look at A and B boxed together than sift through the list of rules looking to see whether it was "A must be in the same group as B" or "A must come before B" or "B must come before A."
Dude, in LG, diagrams is work. Try to do Calc 2 or 3 level math in your head. You can't. You have to write it down. If math = LG, then writing shit down = diagramming.
You win many internetz. Grats.Clearlynotstefan wrote:As to your thinking, you're crazy. A diagram is supposed to be a simplistic representation of your THOUGHTS on the game. You chart it to organize the work your brain is doing. If your not diagramming on paper, you are literally just imagining your diagram internally. One way or another you need a system to organize the elements, be it on paper, or in your head. Your paper diagram should literally just aid you in organizing the elements. It's NOT a formula, you don't punch in the rules and elements, and have it spit out the answers. I think you are disappointed with diagrams because you think it's a magic illustration that should solve these things for you. It's an organizational tool...To organize your thoughts...the same thoughts you would be having without a diagram, just with no where to put them.
Your options are
Use your brain and use paper
or use your brain.
If you're thinking taking the paper out of the equation will make a difference, I suggest you look at the other element in question. You don't know how to solve logic games. It's okay, many many people struggle with them. Learn how to think about them, then learn how to efficiently display those thoughts on paper (to make thinking about them easier), then learn how to answer the questions about those thoughts. stop looking at diagrams to do more than what they are there to do...Help your brain remember what it's doing, Provide a place to test what it's thinking, and most importantly, provide a record of whats been done that will almost always answer a second question you didn't even realize you were working on yet.
An analogy if you will. You are a carpenter with a hammer, who doesn't know how to build a house. You seem to think that if you didn't have the hammer, you'd be better at building houses.
Anyone smart enough to do LG without a diagram, is also smart enough to know he should use a diagram anyway.
Good luck brother, I hope I wasn't too cruel here, I'm really not trying to be. I just wanted to put diagramming in context here.
Just to illustrate the point: a "box" that says something like "A must be in the same group as B" isn't part of a formula; it's a notation to help you remember. Now, if you can perfectly remember all the rules after reading them once, then more power to you (Mike Ross can!). However, if you're a mere mortal, it's easier to look at A and B boxed together than sift through the list of rules looking to see whether it was "A must be in the same group as B" or "A must come before B" or "B must come before A."
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Almost fell for the troll, but you won't get me, not today.hblake wrote:I've been running into questions that defy diagrams. Even without being on the clock they've mocked any attempt at resolution pictorially, at least within my skill set. Preptest 13 LG was completed practically without a picture drawn, and except for one stupid mistake and the last question on PT 14 I've had success without diagrams - meaning perfect scores, though not timed. Even timing is improving, though. I expect some combination of thought-strategizing and pictoralizing might be necessary on some questions if not some sections, but why not focus on where the operations are actually happening - in your head - than on the tool you're using to memorize the rules of those operations? Who actually traces those arrows anyway?
Lmfao. Yes, a 170 is the average test score.hblake wrote:
Average is 170 eh?
- PeanutsNJam
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
He missed the part where I said "about the average of the posters on tls"
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Matt Riley. He writes our Games curriculum. Watching him do a new LG is surreal. He'll sit there, read the intro, and start circling answer choices. The right ones.
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- PeanutsNJam
- Posts: 4670
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:57 pm
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
Wouldn't be surprised if that's something you do for a living.bp shinners wrote:Matt Riley. He writes our Games curriculum. Watching him do a new LG is surreal. He'll sit there, read the intro, and start circling answer choices. The right ones.
- mindarmed
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 2:16 pm
Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
That's absurd, I started off with getting -0 and -1 on LG without reading the LGB or any of that stuff, just based on comparing the games to stuff I've learned in college and I don't think I would ever be able to do that.bp shinners wrote:Matt Riley. He writes our Games curriculum. Watching him do a new LG is surreal. He'll sit there, read the intro, and start circling answer choices. The right ones.
- chill
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
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Last edited by chill on Fri Mar 13, 2015 12:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Logic Games without diagramming.
It's not so much "can you do them in your head", given enough time many people could go -0 on LG without writing anything down. It's "should this be something even considered for the actual test".chill wrote:I've worked as an LSAT tutor for the past year, and I do them without diagrams now. After spending so much time diagramming every game over and over, it just becomes really easy to figure out what's actually going to matter. I actually have a bunch as pdfs on my Kindle, where I absolutely can't use a diagram, and doing them in my head is a really fun way to kill a plane ride.armedwithamind wrote:That's absurd, I started off with getting -0 and -1 on LG without reading the LGB or any of that stuff, just based on comparing the games to stuff I've learned in college and I don't think I would ever be able to do that.bp shinners wrote:Matt Riley. He writes our Games curriculum. Watching him do a new LG is surreal. He'll sit there, read the intro, and start circling answer choices. The right ones.
That being said, I can't imagine trying to do LR without marking the page.
ETA: the really hard questions are the "if ___, how many possible orders are there?/___ could be in what number of positions" type. Those'd be great to have hypos written out for.
ETA 2: Really, don't do this unless you're bored at work and are trying to up the challenge of LG's. I diagrammed every game for the first year, then started to notice I was doing more in my head and decided to see if I could do a whole one in my head. Now, it's a masochistic habit I've developed.
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