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Maybe I should give you guys some background because I cannot afford a class and I am really anal about having to understand everything as I am reading. From my post concerning a question I have about a problem I think I may be going about my studies the wrong way and you are assuming that I know way more than I actually do.

I took my first preptest 8 days ago. I timed it completed the questions in order and stopped when my time was up. As on every other multiple choice test I have ever taken, I marked all b's when time was running low. I scored a 151 and it was prep test 16 from september '95. On the four sections this is how I did
#before time ran out/#total/#correct : LG
LG: 18/24/10
LR: 18/24/13
LR: 21/26/19
RC: 21/27/14
Without my guesses of all B's when I was running out my score would have been a 150. From what I've garnered from my other post Logic Games for Dummies is not the best study aid. I should start by saying that I am dirt poor and the book was free.
I am a philosophy major and that being said I have no prerequisite for the logic games and I took symbolic logic when I was a freshman. I am trying to get a good base before I start into doing actual LSAT questions. I am begining my study an entire year in advance. I asked Steve on the LSAT blog and he said there are no comparable books to the bible that don't use actual questions. My grades until recently have been horrible so I am trying to break 170. I just need to know where to start.
edit because of brain fart on day i took preptest

seeodywhy wrote:Maybe I should give you guys some background because I cannot afford a class and I am really anal about having to understand everything as I am reading. From my post concerning a question I have about a problem I think I may be going about my studies the wrong way and you are assuming that I know way more than I actually do.

I took my first preptest 3 days ago. I timed it completed the questions in order and stopped when my time was up. As on every other multiple choice test I have ever taken, I marked all b's when time was running low. I scored a 151 and it was prep test 16 from september '95. On the four sections this is how I did
#before time ran out/#total/#correct : LG
LG: 18/24/10
LR: 18/24/13
LR: 21/26/19
RC: 21/27/14
Without my guesses of all B's when I was running out my score would have been a 150. From what I've garnered from my other post Logic Games for Dummies is not the best study aid. I should start by saying that I am dirt poor and the book was free.
I am a philosophy major and that being said I have no prerequisite for the logic games and I took symbolic logic when I was a freshman. I am trying to get a good base before I start into doing actual LSAT questions. I am begining my study an entire year in advance. I asked Steve on the LSAT blog and he said there are no comparable books to the bible that don't use actual questions. My grades until recently have been horrible so I am trying to break 170. I just need to know where to start.

Buy the logic games bible. The idea you have of getting a good foundation before doing any LSAT questions is, well, terrible. You don't want to just jump into doing questions without having a foundation, but it takes a long time to get a good foundation and the best way is to do some questions as you are learning. That being said, the LGB does not have that many games in it.

Also...where are you located?

you might consider looking into scholarships that Princeton Review offers, we do offer need based scholarships to our classes for underprivileged students. Look up the local office and call there and see what they have to tell you.

I am in Baltimore, MD. I am not trying to be difficult but I can see how the actual lsat games would be good for practice but I don't see why the actual games are so important for learning things like diagraming them and what inferences/assumptions/conclusions I can make about certain question types. By this I mean the extremely general. I am honestly not trying to invite any ill will.

Does anyone know of a good formal/informal logic book that has exercises in it? Identify the fallacy and such.

Don't worry about your initial diagnostic score. A 151 is fine to start with. You can go up quite a ways from there. As for study materials, you do need to get your hands on the right materials (the Bibles). You need to study with actual LSATs. Other materials won't help as much and can even hurt you if you pick up bad habits. For games, not all diagraming techniques are equal (except for linear order games). The games bible actually takes you step-by-step through a terrible diagramming technique from another company and explains why that technique is terrible.

It is a shame that good individual test prep costs around $142 ($35 for each bible, and $20 for two of the sets of ten exams from LSAC, and $32 for four of the most recent tests). But in terms of law school cost, it is tiny! And if you factor in scholarships and better job opportunities, those resources surely have a vastly positive net financial impact. Wish I had more to say to help.

Don't worry about getting used, or older editions of the bibles or other prep-books to save money. I used an outdated LG Bible and an old Kaplan book. Where you should be willing to spend the money is on real LSAT prep-tests with answers from LSAC. The very best thing to do in the beginning is to read the explanation answer to every question and every answer choice--even the ones you answered correctly.

cahesu wrote:Don't worry about getting used, or older editions of the bibles or other prep-books to save money. I used an outdated LG Bible and an old Kaplan book. Where you should be willing to spend the money is on real LSAT prep-tests with answers from LSAC. The very best thing to do in the beginning is to read the explanation answer to every question and every answer choice--even the ones you answered correctly.

Hey, I actually looked on Amazon used book selection before listing the prices. Unless the student just happens to have a friend with an old book, or lucks out at a bookstore unaware of the value of the book, the prices I gave respresent entirely realistic costs.

I have had the LG bible in my shopping cart on amazon for a week now. As soon as I get the money I will buy it. As far as the LR section goes I want to really know a Logic Textbook like the back of my hand first. It would be great to find one soon while I have the time this summer. What is this LSAC gpa I keep seeing? I am new to this sight and I can tell you that the hardest thing is all the acronyms. Earlier I saw something about a LOCI. Thanks for the advice.

seeodywhy wrote:I have had the LG bible in my shopping cart on amazon for a week now. As soon as I get the money I will buy it. As far as the LR section goes I want to really know a Logic Textbook like the back of my hand first. It would be great to find one soon while I have the time this summer. What is this LSAC gpa I keep seeing? I am new to this sight and I can tell you that the hardest thing is all the acronyms. Earlier I saw something about a LOCI. Thanks for the advice.

Be careful about what logic textbook you buy. What you are looking for is one for informal logic, not one dedicated mere to formal logic. Copi's is probably the most used over the past few decades (it has both formal and informal logic in it): actually, he died some time ago and they just keep putting out new editions of his book with a new co-author! But you can find old editions in great shape for a buck or two. Don't pay more than a few bucks + shipping for a logic textbook. Stay away from those that have 'symbolic logic' as a focus. Focus on the "parts of arguments" chapter (ususally the first), the "necessary and sufficient conditions" chapter (usually a few in) and the "informal logical fallacies" chapter (usually towards the end). Chapters on basic induction/probabilities are helpful too, but not if too detailed and technical. You can also check these out of a library no problem. Older editions are fine. Remember that even many local public libraries will allow you to order books through interlibrary loan.

LSAC gpa is the gpa the company LSAC gives you based on your transcripts. Basically, it is a standarized way of giving GPAs for law school admisions. You'll have to send your official transcripts to LSAC. LOCI is Letter of contined interest; and is written by those on waitlists to indicate that they still are interested in attending this late in the game.

I ordered the logic book. For 7 dollars you can't beat it with a stick. Thanks

seeodywhy wrote:
Does anyone know of a good formal/informal logic book that has exercises in it? Identify the fallacy and such.

powerscore bibles