How do I find a conclusion in LSAT logical reasoning?

Answer 1

Conclusions appear in LSAT arguments questions in various ways, therefore, we need to have a variety of tools to find them.

Let's start by stating what a conclusion is. A conclusion is an opinion supported by evidence. This distinguishes a conclusion from facts. You would not have an LSAT argument that states that water boils at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just a fact in nature. Conclusions are statements that require support, so they either seek to judge or to explain. In the realm of judging, think of statements that say whether something is right or wrong, good or bad, worthwhile or not worthwhile. The natural response to reading that something is bad is to ask why. The why is the evidence that supports the conclusion. Conclusions also can explain. They can take a set of facts and then offer an additional statement explains the state of affairs. So if an argument mentions that dinosaurs were eliminated from the Earth in a mass extinction event along with some evidence of a giant crater on the Yucatan Peninsula that was formed around the time of the extinction, those are facts. A conclusion that explains those facts would say that a giant asteroid made the crater which led to the extinction.

We can also identify conclusions by what they do. Conclusions are supported and can be used to support. But the main conclusion of an argument is supported by the argument and supports nothing else in the argument. This is important because arguments can have multiple conclusions. If a conclusion is supported but then in turn supports something else, it is an intermediate conclusion and not the main conclusion.

And finally, we can find conclusions by how they look. Look for conclusion indicator words. My main four that I like to have students remember are however, therefore, thus, and so. If you see those words, they are indicators that some sort of conclusion is coming. Whether it is a main or intermediate conclusion will be up to you to further determine by looking at the entirety of the argument.

Answer 2

When looking for a conclusion, I keep an eye out for words that indicating transitions between ideas. For example:

"Some dairy farmers think they can maximize profits by feeding their animals less expensive, low-quality food. They are wrong. Cows produce more milk when they are eating a well-balanced diet. Therefore, farms will ultimately earn more by feeding their animals more expensive, nutritionally robust foods."

The answer might be something like: "Farmers are wrong in thinking they can maximize their profit by feeding cows less expensive food because more expensive food leads to higher milk production."

I zeroed in on the "therefore" in this statement, which indicates that a conclusion is being drawn out of a premise. This conclusion links together with an earlier rebuttal of someone else's--in this case, some farmers'--conclusion. The person making this argument is basically saying, "They are wrong because..." and using the premise about milk production and well-balanced diets to prove the point.

While studying for the LSAT, it's important to spend as much time as you need in order to develop a granular understanding of how different parts of the argument works together. Soon, it will begin to feel second nature.