The Official December 2014 Study Group Forum

[nlee10]

I know there was a useful section in the Bible about the all/some/most "train." I don't find it particularly useful to diagram these, aside from noting which kind of qualifiers are used, since the answer choice will reflect a parallel in that sense. So, if the stimulus says "Some x's blah blah y," I know the answer choice cannot be "Most" or "All" x's blah blah y.

ETA: Goes without saying that everyone should do whatever they are most comfortable with. As a philosophy major, I'm all too familiar with formal logic, so I can do a lot of it in my head. It definitely helps to drill the Conditional Reasoning packet and do the diagramming for those even if you don't need to. I like to check my work against the Manhattan LSAT forums just to make sure my diagrams are accurate. Once I built that foundation and was confident with my diagramming, I just carried it all in my head because it saves time.

Ah that makes sense. Coming in with essentially zero knowledge of logic, even learning how to diagram was a huge feat in itself.

[Smallville]

There are no stupid questions when trying to learn the LSAT. Not everyone is on the same page, sir.

There are definitely stupid questions and youre stupid if you think otherwise

this is where I come in to save the day/make every1 friends right?

[Colonel_funkadunk]

There are no stupid questions when trying to learn the LSAT. Not everyone is on the same page, sir.

There are definitely stupid questions and youre stupid if you think otherwise

this is where I come in to save the day/make every1 friends right?

still going with that shtick huh

[m27]

Just took my first LSAT after the September exam with only about 1-2 weeks of light review. Got a 162 on PT52 (-14 LR; -6 RC; -2 LG), significantly better than how I did on the real test.

Quickly checked over my answers and made some insanely stupid mistakes on very easy questions. I finished all the sections with some time to spare, so I guess I need to drill and focus on LR more along with paying additional attention to avoid my dumb reading mistakes.

Is focusing on one type of LR problem advisable at this point or should I stick with blind review/timed section practices?

[Rigo]

[nlee10]

Is focusing on one type of LR problem advisable at this point or should I stick with blind review/timed section practices?

No need to focus on one question type unless you're consistently missing one question type.
Continue drilling all LR question types AND taking PT's.

Yup. That's going to be my plan. Having trouble with MBT's and Assumptions so lots of drilling.

[MEAhrnsbrak]

I've started taking a step back from timing myself, and instead forcing myself to answer questions the right way every time (except on PTs). Even if I think I know the answer I make myself write out cause and effects, conditional statements, and all of that fun stuff. I have been extremely pleased with my improvements. Took PT 38 today and went -1 LG, -6 LR, and -4 RC. Got a 171 which is my first 170+!! Hoping to make the 170's a habit now!

[mist4bison]

.

[justabitunusual]

In an effort to continue the encouragement of studying, there's this:

(Taylor's swift's Shake it off to 80's aerobic championship) DYING.

[youtube]WPyG5mMfaN8[/youtube]

I think we can all feel better ab ourselves after that.

[Smallville]

+1. I think this is why going stem-stim is particularly useful because if it's a conditional in the stim but the stem is not asking for Nec./Suff. ass, I will not diagram.

I honestly still haven't decided which one of these I prefer (stem-stim or stim-stem). I try for stim-stem, but usually if I find the first few words confusing I'll jump to the stem. Maybe I should just give in and do stem first. Definitely agree with people over-diagramming, though. So many people in my class try to diagram every. single. question.

since 7sage I've started stem first and kinda starting to like it

In an effort to continue the encouragement of studying, there's this:

(Taylor's swift's Shake it off to 80's aerobic championship) DYING.

*TSwift*

I think we can all feel better ab ourselves after that.

yes... +1

[justabitunusual]

What does BR mean? Lol...

Blind Review...7sage gives an extensive explanation on it here: http://7sage.com/the-blind-review-how-t ... at-part-1/
scooped

Ah thanks for the link! I didn't realize this was free content from 7sage so I was trying to summarize. However, it's better straight from the horse's mouth.

Just saw this...you actually summarized very well I thought...esp since there were 9 posts ab it through 7sage...lol

[mist4bison]

.

[justabitunusual]

this is the best thing I've ever seen. I'm not a fan of TSwift, but this video changes everything.

I'm not either, and mostly bc i think she's such flake, but this was funny...I just picture her working out to this video and thinking, "OMG! I have the perfect song!"

eta: and in all actuality she can't be credited w this video so, idk if we gave her too much cred?

[portmanteaux]

I think most people tend to over-diagram for LR, so be sure to only do it when it's essential. Otherwise, it could do more harm than good by confusing you.

+1. I think this is why going stem-stim is particularly useful because if it's a conditional in the stim but the stem is not asking for Nec./Suff. ass, I will not diagram.

How about MBT's with some conditionals? With "all" "most" "some" "none"

I used to start diagramming every time I saw all/most/some, then when I got to the answer choices, I realized I didn't even need the diagram. Now if I see a stim that has those modifiers I usually don't diagram if its one of the first 15 questions (not foolproof, but usually works)--and if its one of the later questions, I will take a second to quickly scan the answer choices and if they all seem to have typical formal logic in them, then I will diagram. I tend to still finish early when I do this. It also depends on time. Lately if I question 15 in 12-13 minutes, or question 20 in 20 minutes, I feel ok slowing down to diagram if I think it will help.

Like you, I also go back and diagram during BR which I think is great practice.

[Shakawkaw]

So, it's nearing 10 p.m. EST. When is GT gunna hit us with that PW?

[mist4bison]

.

[justabitunusual]

So, it's nearing 10 p.m. EST. When is GT gunna hit us with that PW?

Right?? I completely forgot ab this.

[justabitunusual]

and in all actuality she can't be credited w this video so, idk if we gave her too much cred?

She also can't be credited with the lyrics...so yeah, definitely too much credit.

we're so nice.

[Smallville]

So, it's nearing 10 p.m. EST. When is GT gunna hit us with that PW?

probably hoping every1 goes to sleep so the PW isn't revealed to people

[dasani13]

PT 60

LR-3
LG-5
LR-1
RC-7
167

Has anyone taken this PT lately?

I got a 177, but it was my second time taking it. The intern game can definitely throw someone off if they aren't on their game.

Ohh nice! Yeah that game was annoying but somehow the game that tripped me up was the second one. LR1 #23 confused the shit out of me. I still don't get it even after BR.

[blumenthal]

one month out

checking in and freaking out

[nlee10]

one month out

checking in and freaking out

Indeed. 4 weeks.

I still need work on transitioning to timing without sacrificing accuracy.

[blumenthal]

one month out

checking in and freaking out

Indeed. 4 weeks.

I still need work on transitioning to timing without sacrificing accuracy.

I try to do as much of my practice as possible properly timed. Speed is my weakest area for sure. I miss so many more at the end of sections when I'm rushed.

[nlee10]

one month out

checking in and freaking out

Indeed. 4 weeks.

I still need work on transitioning to timing without sacrificing accuracy.

I try to do as much of my practice as possible properly timed. Speed is my weakest area for sure. I miss so many more at the end of sections when I'm rushed.

Yep...this shows in the discrepancy between my timed PT and BR/Untimed PT. Timed PT is floating around a 159-160 but my BR is easily 10 points higher.

[blumenthal]

Yeah, and the more I try to speed up the slower I go somehow. damn you, LSAT