LSAT 128 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q8

LR Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Candidate: The children in our nation need a better education …

QUESTION TYPE: Role in Argument

CONCLUSION: My opponent places too much blame on schools for the state of education.

REASONING: While the school system needs reform, education is not the same as schooling, and other parts of society are at least as responsible for educating children.

ANALYSIS: The overall argument is that while the school systems need reform, they should not solely be blamed for the state of education because education involves much more than just schooling.

The statement that the school system needs reform is not the main point but rather a concession. The candidate acknowledges that schools have issues but still argues that blaming them too much is misguided. The best answer will reflect this.

___________

1. No, the main conclusion is that too much blame is placed on schools.
2. The candidate doesn’t propose a solution to school reform. They’re discussing who is responsible for education.
3. The statement acknowledges that reform is needed, but it doesn’t directly establish that schools are being overly blamed. The statement just prevents the argument from being dismissed as ignoring school problems.
4. The claim isn’t that failing schools are responsible for broader societal problems. The candidate is arguing that education is more than just schooling.
5. CORRECT. The statement about school reform functions as a limited concession. The candidate acknowledges that schools aren’t perfect, but still argues that they’re not solely to blame for education problems.