The Fundamentals of Prephrasing Part I

Scenario I: Precise Prephrase

There are times when you have the ability to literally “know” exactly what the correct answer choice will say. This may be the result of a particular question type, like Justify the Conclusion, where the task given is so exacting that predictive precision is possible (“this new element in the conclusion about X must be connected to this premise idea about Y”), or it may be the consequence of a particular set of circumstances, such as Must Be True with conditional reasoning (“the inference from A → B and B → C is that A → C”). You should capitalize on the moments when that certainty is possible.

Scenario II: Generalized Prephrase

The majority of the time, however, you will not be able to prephrase with that degree of specificity. Consider a Weaken question with a conclusion, “Thus, we should vote for the mayor’s proposal.” Clearly, the correct answer choice that attacks this conclusion will provide a reason that we should not vote for the mayor’s proposal. But what will that exact reason be? Chances are you won’t know the exact reason the test makers give prior to actually reading it in the correct answer choice. But that does not mean that prephrasing is impossible or should be skipped!

The key in a case like this is that the “truth” of your prephrase encompasses not what the correct answer choice will say, but what it will do. So a good prephrase to weaken the conclusion, “Thus, we should vote for the mayor’s proposal,” would be something like, “the correct answer will give a reason why we should not vote for the mayor’s proposal.” Then simply process each answer choice through that filter until you find the choice that satisfies your prediction. “Does answer choice A provide a reason to not vote for the proposal? No. Does answer choice B provide a reason to not vote for the proposal?”…etc.

A Prephrase is Always Possible

So often test takers encounter situations like the one described above. Sadly, they respond by moving on to the answer choices without consideration of the element that can still be predicted: the nature of the correct choice in terms of what it will accomplish. Prephrasing is an absolute necessity if you’re looking to reach your full potential on the LSAT; the good news is that regardless of the question type or context, a prephrase is ALWAYS possible.

In Prephrasing Part II I describe a practice drill you can use to improve your prephrasing. I think it will help you gain a real mastery of this crucial skill.