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while reviewing my sufficient packet with manhattan forums, i notice people using diagrams to answer these questions. is this a common thing y'all do? also, wouldn't think only be used if there's conditionals in the stimulus.

I hardly ever do. However, if a problem is sufficiently hard (pun intended) then I will, but this is like maybe 1 question a test.

yeah you usually don't need to but it is useful on the hardest questions

If its not super super obvious. Like if the question isn't set up that makes it easy for me to see If A then B if C then D thus If A then D. I won't diagram.

During a PT, nope.

If I'm drilling or having issues with certain questions, absolutely. Obviously, we want to get through each question in a timely manner but it's also a great idea to take time to freshen up your skills and help create good habits. Eventually, you won't need to diagram because you will be able to do the diagraming in your head.

Post removed.

As others have said, if the question has conditional logic, it can be very useful to diagram it - it helps you locate the exact gap in logic, and without diagramming, it's very easy to go with the converse or inverse of the sufficient assumption. If there isn't conditional language, you'd probably want to break the argument down in your head rather than jotting it out, at least in situations where you're working under a time constraint.

I personally do, but only on ones that are easily broken down by conditional language. Diagramming might "waste" 10 seconds on the front-end but when utilized correctly it could safe a minute on the back-end. I am not going to diagram something like, "Blah blah useless information that I will never need. I like everything that is green. blah blah useless information I won't ever need. Therefore, I like Kermit the Frog." In this case, it is very clear that the argument is equating Kermit to being green and the SA would be "Kermit the Frog is green."