PT 18 LR # 1, question #23 Forum

[icobes]

Can someone please diagram this question for me?

Much appreciated

[Atlas LSAT Teacher]

This is definitely an inference question worth diagramming.

First sentence: Teachers effective --> Students independent learners
Second sentence: ~ Teachers deciding --> ~ Student independent deciding
Third sentence: Students independent learners --> Student independent deciding

Conclusion: Teachers effective --> Teachers deciding

The premises can be linked, using the contrapositive of the second one, to prove the conclusion correct:

Teachers effective --> Students independent learners --> Student independent deciding --> Teachers deciding

For use below, I'll abbreviate: TE --> SIL --> SID --> TD

We're asked what cannot be true for teachers who have enabled students to make decisions for themselves. If we know SID, we also know TD because of the last conditional relationship. (E) cannot be true because if teachers have empowered their class to make decisions ("Student independent deciding") then we know "Teachers deciding," meaning the teachers do have the power to make decision in their own classroom.

(A) could be true: SID and SIL can both occur.
(B) could be true: SID doesn't require TE or ~ TE (thought TE does require SID)
(C) is proved possible for the same reason as (B)
(D) is true: SID requires TE.

Does that work for you?

[Edit for thoroughness]

[icobes]

Excellent answer! Thanks so much, it really helped me out.