Writing Your Grandmother and Other Unusual Study Strategies Forum

[DasBoot]

I have been lurking for a while, but I thought I'd contribute something that has been unexpectedly helpful.

When my grandma discovered that I was taking the LSAT she became suddenly interested in the whole thing. I don't email her on a regular basis, but she wrote me an email saying that she and my grandpa recently decided to work on some logic games from the test together. They were able to complete them only after drawing out a "chart." I can only imagine it as a large unwieldy thing that took them an hour to compose. She asked me how it was possible to complete the problem in less than 8 or 9 minutes, and so I wrote her a lengthy message about how to break down and combine the conditions of the game in order to increase the test taker's speed. We have been going back and forth for a while now about different problems, and now when I see certain problem types from various sections I find myself referring not to the advice from the Bibles but rather from my discussions with my grandmother. It seemed strange to me at first, but it makes sense. When describing problem solving strategies with her I am required to not just be able to remember the information from the guides in rote fashion, but instead I have to be able to take what I've learned and synthesize an explanation of that information.

Does anyone else have any unusual, yet helpful study methods?

[skip james]

Forcing yourself to explain a concept(s) is a great way to ensure that you really know them. Try doing this with LR, I bet you'd find it tremendously helpful. More specifically, write out a two or three page explanation of any problem that you got wrong, in such a way that someone who never encountered the LSAT would understand how to get to the correct answer. Bet it'll do wonders.

[Adjudicator]

Forcing yourself to explain a concept(s) is a great way to ensure that you really know them. Try doing this with LR, I bet you'd find it tremendously helpful. More specifically, write out a two or three page explanation of any problem that you got wrong, in such a way that someone who never encountered the LSAT would understand how to get to the correct answer. Bet it'll do wonders.

This is so true. Talking about something or explaining something to someone else always reinforces my understanding.

Maybe I should try teaching the LSAT to my wife.

[Burger in a can]

I always wished someone would agree to listen to me explain the LSAT to them. Nobody did.

[dub]

Have your gramma send an email my way.

[A'nold]

Your grandma sounds awesome. What a cool situation you have going there.

[kazu]

I always wished someone would agree to listen to me explain the LSAT to them. Nobody did.

Yep same here...

[Adjudicator]

Bwahaha, my wife is going to let me explain a section of LG to her and we're going to work it through together... this is going to be my secret weapon for the October test.

[legalease9]

Op has a great study partner! I've always thought that teaching is the best way to learn material.

[Jack Smirks]

What's your grandma's phone number? I will school her in LG, guarantee it.