LSAT Explanation PT 40, S3, Q9: Writer: I collaborated with another writer

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's start by summarizing and analyzing the argument in the passage. The writer claims that because their last book, which was a collaboration, sold well, they should collaborate with another writer for their next book to achieve similar success. This argument has one premise and one conclusion:

Premise: The writer's last book, a collaboration, sold well.

Conclusion: The writer should collaborate with another writer on their next book to achieve similar success.

To help you understand the argument, imagine you and a friend baked a cake together and it turned out great. You might think that if you bake another cake with your friend, it will also turn out great.

Now, let's come up with an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Is the success of the writer's last book solely due to the collaboration?"

The question type for this problem is Principle, and we are asked to find the principle that most helps to justify the reasoning above. Let's discuss each answer choice:

a) This answer choice is not correct because the passage does not mention that the writer plans to collaborate with the same writer as before. The argument is about collaboration in general, not with a specific writer.

b) This answer choice is incorrect because it suggests that collaboration is the only way for a book to sell well. The argument in the passage does not claim this; it just says that collaboration led to the success of the writer's last book.

c) This is the correct answer choice. If this principle is true, it strengthens the writer's argument by suggesting that future collaborations will also lead to successful book sales, just like the last book.

d) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the success of writers who do not collaborate. The argument in the passage is about the writer's own experience with collaboration and how it led to their last book's success.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because it provides an alternative cause for a book's success – good writers collaborating. The writer in the passage does not claim to be a good writer or to have collaborated with a good writer. The argument is simply that collaboration led to the success of their last book, so they should collaborate again for their next book.