The most important skill on the LSAT.
Before you can evaluate an argument, you have to know what the argument actually is. That means finding the conclusion — the point the author is trying to get you to believe.
What is a conclusion vs. evidence vs. opinion vs. background?
- Conclusion: The claim the author wants you to accept. This is the endpoint — what follows from the evidence.
- Evidence / Premises: The facts the author uses to support the conclusion. These are the building blocks.
- Opinion: The author's personal view. Not backed by data. Often signals bias.
- Background: Context. Useful for understanding, but doesn't prove anything.
How to actually find it:
Look for the "so" or "therefore" logic. When one sentence leads to another — "X, therefore Y" — Y is usually the conclusion.
Ask yourself: is this sentence trying to prove something, or is it the thing being proven?
If you can plug in "as a result" after a sentence and it makes sense, that's your conclusion.
Practice: Spotting conclusions in real arguments
The LSAT puts conclusions in different places — first, middle, or last. Never assume it's at the end.
Look for structural signals:
- "Therefore..."
- "Thus..."
- "So..."
- "Consequently..."
- "This shows that..."
- "It follows that..."
These words are your signal flares. When you see one, stop and identify what's being concluded.
Why this matters for every LR question:
Every LR question asks you to work with the argument in front of you. If you can't find the conclusion, you can't find the gap. And the gap is where the right answer lives.
The LSAT is simpler than students think. Find the conclusion first. Everything else follows.