It is difficult to grow cacti in a humid climate. It is difficult to raise orange trees in a cold climate. In most pa...
nmart221November 8, 2019
knowing when to diagram
I got this question correct but I noticed that in the video some of the sentences for the passage were diagramed. I never diagrammed it. I thought it wasn't possible. How do you know when/how to diagram a passage when the is no suf. and nec. wording?
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A challenge on the LSAT is identifying sufficient and necessary conditions when they are not explicitly written in an if/then format. Sometimes you have to create your own if/then statement. If you can create one without altering the logic, then you have identified sufficient and necessary conditions.
For example: If the climate is humid (HC), then it is difficult to grow cacti (DGC). HC - - - - - - - - >DGC not DGC - - - - - - - -> not HC
I changed the wording, but can you see that the logic is the same?
You were able to get to the right answer without making a diagram, which is totally fine. If you can properly track the arguments in your head, then you don't necessarily have to diagram. I will usually employ diagrams on convoluted passages, or on long chains of if/then statements. If you are still getting the hang of sufficient and necessary conditions, it is best to diagram until you feel comfortable enough not to. People have different strategies. With enough practice, you'll know when a diagram is going to help you and when it isn't.
Here are some other clues that you are looking at sufficient and necessary conditions: unless, only, when. These are just a few examples, so expect to encounter more.
1. Event A will not occur, unless Event B occurs. A - - - - - - > B not B - - - - - - > not A
2. Person A will not join the team only if Person B joins the team. not A - - - - - - > B not B - - - - - - > A
3. When the moon is full, there will be high tide. MF - - - - - - -> HT not HT - - - - - -> not MF
