Logical Reasoning Question Types-Underlying Issue

In many ways logical reasoning (arguments) underlying issue problems mirror what examinees will see in the reading comprehension portion of the LSAT. Therefore, despite the fact that examinees will see only a small amount of these types of questions in the logical reasoning portions of the LSAT, the skills used to discern these questions is readily applicable to those used in other parts of the LSAT, namely reading comprehension.

Logical reasoning (arguments) underlying issue problems are typically easy to identify. The examiner will usually include in the question stem something like "what is the author saying," or "identify the conclusion." If the examinee is employing the skill of reading the question stem prior to reading the passage, it should be obvious when an underlying issue problem is encountered.

It is important for the examinee to understand what the examiner is seeking from them. The main skill that is required is the examinee's ability to differentiate between the underlying issue of the passage and the remaining filler. This remaining filler can serve as evidence or support for the underlying issue, or it can be completely extraneous. Either way, the examinee is required to separate all of the superfluous information and cut straight to the heart of the matter. Consider the following example:

Jake has always been a great student and an exceptional athlete. As a matter of fact, Jake has always excelled at whatever he has attempted. For example, Jake won first prize in his eighth grade science fair.

To begin identifying the various components of the above passage, the examinee should keep in mind that the underlying issue is the one thing from the passage that the author wants the reader to take away from the passage. A common strategy in approaching logical reasoning (arguments) underlying issue problems is for the examinee to ask themselves, "if the author could only tell me one of the above statements, what would it be?" By asking this question, the examinee stands a pretty good chance of quickly determining the correct answer choice.

In the above example, it should be fairly obvious that the author is trying to convey the underlying issue that Jake has always excelled at whatever he has attempted. Breaking down the rest of the passage illustrates that all of the other statements in the passage are simply supportive of the underlying issue. Jake's prowess as an athlete and scholar and his eighth grade science fair victory are all evidence that Jake has always excelled at whatever he has attempted. Now consider this example:

Jake has an important audition coming up. Jake is the hands-on favorite to get the part. This is primarily because he is regarded as the best actor in Smithville. In fact, Jake has always excelled at whatever he has attempted.

Notice the use of the same phrase regarding Jake excelling as was used in the previous passage. What should stand out, however, is that here this passage is used to prove the underlying issue and not to serve as the underlying issue. Here, the underlying issue is that Jake is the hands-on favorite to get the part. Jake's overall excellence is support for this conclusion.