Finding the real main point
Look for a conclusion-indicating word ('therefore,' 'thus,' 'so,' 'clearly') and check what comes after it. If a sentence supports another claim later in the passage, it's a premise, not the main point, no matter how important it sounds on its own.
A wrong answer often restates a supporting premise, or states a conclusion broader or narrower than the one the passage actually draws.
Describing the method, not the topic
Method-of-reasoning answers describe the argument's structure in general terms: citing a counterexample, applying a general principle to a specific case, appealing to authority, drawing an analogy, or attacking a claim's supporting evidence rather than its conclusion.
Eliminate any choice that describes a technique the passage doesn't actually use, even if it sounds sophisticated or fits the general subject area.
What LSAC says about the parts of an argument
LSAC lists recognizing the parts of an argument and their relationships as the first skill on its Logical Reasoning list, and this is the skill a main point question uses. LSAC says the passages are short arguments taken from newspapers, general interest magazines, scholarly publications, advertisements and informal discourse.
LSAC also notes that law students must analyze, evaluate, construct and refute arguments, and that Logical Reasoning does not require specialized logical vocabulary. Describing a method such as citing a counterexample or drawing an analogy in plain words is therefore enough, as long as the description matches what the passage actually does.
3 original practice questions
Written for this guide, not taken from any licensed test. Your result is saved on this device only.
Some critics argue that a new film's slow pacing is a flaw. But pacing that seems slow on a first viewing often reveals careful, deliberate craftsmanship on a second viewing, once the audience already knows the plot and can focus on the film's visual detail. Far from being a flaw, then, the film's pacing is better understood as evidence of the director's ambition. Which of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?
Answer and explanations
Correct answer: B. The passage's other claims (about second viewings and visual detail) support its ultimate point: the pacing isn't a flaw at all. This choice captures that overall conclusion; the others state supporting details or overreach beyond what the passage actually claims.
Economist: Higher interest rates are often blamed for slowing business investment. But several countries with historically low interest rates have also experienced periods of weak business investment. Clearly, interest rates alone cannot fully explain changes in business investment. The economist's argument proceeds by
Answer and explanations
Correct answer: A. The economist doesn't run statistics or cite authorities. The argument identifies cases (low rates, still weak investment) that don't fit the simple causal claim, using a counterexample to undercut the idea that rates alone determine investment.
Nutrition writer: If a diet were truly effective for long-term weight loss, its results would persist well after people stopped following it strictly. Most popular diets show weight regain within two years of participants returning to their normal eating habits. So most popular diets are not effective for long-term weight loss. Which of the following best describes the technique used in the writer's argument?
Answer and explanations
Correct answer: A. The writer states a general test for 'true effectiveness' (persistence after stopping) then applies that test to the specific case of popular diets' regain rates to reach the conclusion. That is a general-principle-to-specific-case structure, not an analogy or authority appeal.
Questions this guide answers
What is an LSAT main point question?
It asks for the passage's ultimate conclusion, not a supporting premise and not a broader or narrower restatement of the claim the passage actually draws.
How do I find the main point of an LSAT passage?
Look for a conclusion-indicating word such as therefore, thus, so or clearly and check what follows. A sentence that supports a later claim is a premise, not the main point.
Why do main point answer choices sound important but still lose?
A wrong answer often restates a supporting premise, or states a conclusion broader or narrower than the one the passage draws.
What is a method-of-reasoning question?
It asks how the argument reaches its conclusion, described abstractly, without repeating the topic. Describe the structural move in your own words before reading the choices.
What methods appear in method-of-reasoning answers?
Citing a counterexample, applying a general principle to a specific case, appealing to authority, drawing an analogy, or attacking a claim's evidence instead of its conclusion.
Should I pick the more sophisticated-sounding method answer?
No. Eliminate any choice describing a technique the passage does not actually use, even if it fits the general subject area.
What does LSAC say about recognizing argument parts?
LSAC lists recognizing the parts of an argument and their relationships among the Logical Reasoning skills, and its passages come from newspapers, magazines and scholarly publications.
Do I need formal logic vocabulary for method questions?
No. LSAC says Logical Reasoning does not require specialized terms, but you do need a university-level grasp of argument, premise, assumption and conclusion.
Your next steps
- Find the conclusion-indicating word and confirm what claim it introduces.
- Rule out any answer that is really a supporting premise, not the ultimate point.
- On method questions, describe the structural move in your own words first.
- Eliminate any answer describing a technique (analogy, authority, counterexample) the passage doesn't use.