Types of Author Attitudes in LSAT Reading Comprehension

“Detatched”

• Just explaining and summarizes views without taking sides

• No stance

• Similar to a fact set

“Engaged”

• Actively evaluating or arguing.

• Can capture a broad range and it quite malleable.

• Demands, criticizes, compares, or even responds to ideas.

• If they have a stance, they are engaged, so if all other ACs aren’t adequate, pick this one.

“Passionate”

• Strong emotional commitment in proving their argument

  • Relatively rare in RC

“Dismissive”

• Rejects ideas or previous theories with little consideration

• Treats a view as obviously wrong

• More negative attitudes

“Skeptical”

• Questions or doubts

• Raises concerns but doesn’t necessarily reject

What makes a viewpoint “Skeptical” over simple “Engaged.”

• An author can be engaged when they disagree with a theory AND reject it.

• When an author is skeptical, they will question it but not outright reject it.