COMMON FLAWS LSAT

| Flaw Type | Description | Example (Simplified) | How to Spot It | How to Fix It |

| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |

| Causal Flaw | Assumes correlation = causation | Ice cream sales ↑ → drownings ↑ | Look for two correlated trends | Consider third variable or reverse causation |

| Comparison Flaw | Compares two things without justification | Assumes two schools are equal because tuition is same | Look for analogies or comparisons | Ask if they’re truly comparable |

| Sampling Flaw | Generalizes from unrepresentative sample | “Surveyed college students → all Americans think so” | Mentions of surveys or polls | Check if sample represents population |

| Ad Hominem | Attacks person instead of argument | “Don’t trust her argument, she’s biased” | Focuses on person not claim | Separate claim from claimant |

| Circular Reasoning | Conclusion restates premise | “The law is unjust because it is unfair” | Identical premise and conclusion | Ask if argument adds new support |

| False Dilemma | Presents only two options | “Either you support policy or hate the country” | Keywords: “either/or,” “only two” | Consider more alternatives |

| Equivocation | Shifts meaning of a key term | “Light” = not heavy vs. “light” = bright | Repeated word used differently | Clarify consistent meaning |

| Unrepresentative Analogy | Uses unrelated comparison | “Mammals need oxygen → fish do too” | Analogy between dissimilar things | Evaluate key differences |

| Quantifier Confusion | Misuses “some,” “most,” “all” | “Some like X, therefore everyone does” | Look for quantifier shifts | Keep quantifiers consistent |

| Part-to-Whole | Assumes part’s property = whole’s | “Each player is good → team must be great” | Mentions parts vs. group | Ask if collective differs from parts |