Logical Reasoning · Method of Argument
PrepTest 116 · Section 3 · Question 8
Phase 1 (your first ~400 questions): read the guidance, then answer. No clock.
Step 1 · Pre-Question Guidance · read this first
- “so”
- “since”
- “anyone”
- “should”
Playground logic
Frankie's patty is a big rule: anyone who helps with the chores should share in the treats. Her extra patty: Biscuit fetched the newspaper. Her top bun: Biscuit should get a cookie. That is applying a general rule to one case.
Step 2 · The kid story
Does Biscuit Get a Cookie?
Saturday was chore day. Grandpa baked cookies as a reward. Frankie made an announcement. "It is unfair for anyone who helps with chores to get left out of the treats. Biscuit fetched the newspaper from the driveway this morning. So Biscuit should get a cookie." Sharon, of course, disagreed. "Dogs can't eat chocolate chips!" "I'm not talking about chips," said Frankie. "I'm talking about fairness." Lulu wrote on her clipboard. How did Frankie argue? She started with a big rule about everyone. Then she showed Biscuit fits the rule. Then she said what should happen. Priya nodded. "That's applying a general principle. Sharon's point is a different issue: whether the rule should bend for dogs." Grandpa solved it with a dog biscuit.
Step 3 · Try the model question
Frankie: It is unfair for anyone who helps with chores to be left out of the treats. Biscuit fetched the newspaper this morning. So Biscuit should get a cookie.
Which one of the following best describes how Frankie argues?
Step 4 · The courtroom tale
The Volunteer Parking Case
A town gave free parking passes to its workers. Retired volunteers who staffed the museum asked for passes too, and were refused. Mr. Whitfield argued their case. "Your Honor, it is unjust for anyone who serves the town to pay to serve it. My clients serve the town every weekend. Therefore they should get passes." The town's lawyer objected: "Volunteers are not employees!" The judge smiled. "That is a fair point to debate. But notice how Mr. Whitfield built his case: one broad rule, then a showing that his clients fit it." The lesson: when an argument opens with a rule about everyone and then plugs in a case, the method is leaning on a broad principle.
Step 5 · Work the real question
Open PrepTest 116, Section 3, Question 8 in your official copy from LSAC (for example in LawHub) and read it there.
Your answer
How to apply it
Read only the speaker the question asks about. Label each sentence: is one a broad statement about what is right for people in general? Is another a fact showing a specific group fits that statement? If the conclusion follows by plugging the group into the rule, the method is appeal to a principle. Eliminate answers describing moves that speaker never makes, and answers that describe the other speaker.