For LSAT hopefuls, the Reading Comprehension section can feel like a maze of complex details. Success often hinges on one key skill: identifying the main idea of a...
Use Lawhub Highlighting Tools for a Good Up Front LSAT Passage Read of PrepTest 158
For LSAT test-takers, reading comprehension can be a make-or-break section, often filled with dense, detail-laden passages. One critical strategy is the "up-front reading" method, which helps you focus on the main ideas and author's purpose without getting bogged down in every detail. This blog post covers insights from a video analyzing LSAT PrepTest 158’s first reading comprehension passage, with a step-by-step guide on how to approach such passages effectively.
Understanding Up-Front Reading: The Key to Main Ideas
The up-front reading approach is about reading through each paragraph initially without highlighting, allowing you to capture the general narrative. As you go, identify one or two key sentences in each paragraph that best encapsulate the main points or perspective of the author. This tactic provides a big-picture view early on, which is helpful when answering questions.
Highlighting Critical Sentences
When reading each paragraph, look for sentences that succinctly convey main points. For example:
- The final sentences in the introductory paragraph capture the core argument about the risks tied to deep well injection.
- In the second paragraph, two specific sentences highlight the practical problems, like potential leaks and human errors, while avoiding overly technical information.
- For the third paragraph, a single topic sentence on waste flow unpredictability can be enough to understand this point without additional detail.
This structured approach to highlighting helps you zero in on the primary issues the author presents, saving you time and mental energy.
Concluding with the Author’s Perspective
The author ultimately suggests that while deep well injection has significant downsides, it will likely remain a popular disposal method due to its cost-efficiency. Recognizing this conclusion is important, as it reflects the author’s stance—a crucial aspect for LSAT reading comprehension.
Applying the Up-Front Reading Technique
By using this approach on passages like LSAT PrepTest 158, you can improve comprehension and efficiently tackle questions without feeling overwhelmed by details. Here are some quick tips:
- Read for Purpose: Focus on sentences that drive the passage’s main argument.
- Minimize Unnecessary Detail: Not all facts are essential—prioritize sentences that capture the author’s perspective.
- Practice Active Highlighting: When practicing, try highlighting strategically to reinforce the habit of finding key ideas.
With practice, the up-front reading method can be a powerful tool to improve your LSAT reading comprehension performance, allowing you to approach passages confidently and efficiently.
Getting Explanations
Over the years, many different LSAT prep outlets have produced text-based question explanations, but now MyGuru has begun providing video explanations to illustrate how to engage the tools of the official interface to encourage engagement, accuracy, and efficiency for both the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections of the test. Our first set of video explanations for PrepTest 158 is available for purchase and more sets for free PrepTests 140, 141, and 157 are already in production, to be released soon.
Of course, if you prefer targeted, personalized LSAT tutoring, our tutors, including myself, are available, and we always offer a free introductory videoconference to showcase how our approach focused on the LSAT and you as a student is so very different from the various one-size-fits-all curricula offered by other services.