LSAT Reading Comprehension: Beyond Skimming - Conquer the Passage, Conquer the Test

KatherineGalland_KCT
KatherineGalland_KCT Posts: 82
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Hey Pre-Law Crew!

LSAT Reading Comprehension. Just the name can send shivers down your spine. Many students approach it with a strategy of "skimming" – quickly glancing over the passage to get the gist. While skimming can be a part of a successful approach, it's definitely not the whole story. This week, we're diving deep into how to go beyond skimming and truly conquer the Reading Comp section.

The Problem with Just Skimming:

Skimming can give you a superficial understanding of the passage, but the LSAT isn't testing your ability to summarize. It's testing your ability to understand complex arguments, identify the author's main point, infer unstated conclusions, and analyze the relationships between different ideas. Skimming alone simply won't cut it for these tasks.

A More Effective Approach: Active Reading

Instead of passively skimming, adopt an active reading strategy. This involves engaging with the text, asking questions, and anticipating where the author is going. Here's a breakdown:

  1. Pre-Read (with Purpose): Before diving into the details, give the passage a quick scan. Look for the topic, scope, and overall structure. What's the passage generally about? What's the author trying to achieve? This pre-read shouldn't be about memorizing facts, but about getting a roadmap of the passage.
  2. Annotate Strategically: Don't highlight everything! Focus on key elements:
    • Main Point: What's the author's central argument or thesis? This is crucial.
    • Supporting Arguments: How does the author support their main point? Identify the key evidence and reasoning.
    • Author's Tone/Perspective: Is the author objective, biased, or critical? Note any shifts in tone.
    • Keywords: Look for words like "however," "therefore," "moreover," "although," which signal shifts in argument or logical connections.
    • Examples/Illustrations: Briefly note any examples the author uses to illustrate their points.
  3. Engage with the Text: Ask yourself questions as you read:
    • "What is the author trying to say here?"
    • "How does this relate to the main point?"
    • "What are the implications of this statement?"
    • "Does the author present any counterarguments?"
  4. Post-Read (Mental Recap): After reading the passage, take a moment to mentally summarize the main points and the relationships between them. This will solidify your understanding and make answering the questions much easier.

Bridging the Gap: From Passage to Questions

The real challenge comes when you move from the passage to the questions. Here's how active reading pays off:

  • Refer Back Strategically: Don't try to remember every detail. Use your annotations and mental recap to guide you back to the relevant parts of the passage when answering specific questions.
  • Anticipate the Answer: Before looking at the answer choices, try to predict what the correct answer should be based on your understanding of the passage. This will help you avoid being swayed by tempting but incorrect options.
  • Eliminate Wrong Answers: Use POE (Process of Elimination) to systematically eliminate answer choices that are inconsistent with the passage or go beyond its scope.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Like any skill, active reading takes practice. Don't be discouraged if it feels awkward at first. The more you practice, the more natural and efficient it will become. Focus on understanding the why behind the author's arguments, not just the what.

Key Takeaway: Ditch the "just skimming" mentality. Embrace active reading, engage with the text, and you'll be well on your way to conquering the LSAT Reading Comprehension section!

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