[blindlaw] Tackling logic games with Excel

Sat Apr 26 17:40:28 UTC 2014

Hi Amy,

I've been continuing to work on hybrid games all day yesterday, and I think
I figured out most of them.  Although I would love to give you the specifics
on how to tackle every type of game that has appeared on the LSAT, such
detailed feedback probably won't make much sense if you don't have access to
the games to work them out.  Therefore, I will provide general Excel
strategies for each pure game, as well as for attacking hybrids.

As you already know, there are four types of actions LSAT logic games test:
sequencing (scheduling auditions, ranking the participants of a contest,
arranging race horses in a straight line, etc.), matching (matching a car
with features, animals with colors, etc.), distribution (e.g.  dividing six
students into two groups of three), and, finally, selection (e.g.  choosing
four out of six available items for a display).  A pure game tests only one
of these actions, whereas a hybrid tests two, three, or, occasionally, all
four.  I will begin with Excel basics that I apply to all games.
Although horizontal and vertical approaches both work, I personally prefer
the former.  First, in order not to have to repeatedly refer to the opening
paragraph of each game, I list all entities (the players in the game) in the
top row(s) of the spreadsheet, with each entity in a separate column.  If a
game contains a single set of entities (e.g.  7 singers), then I list them
all in one row.  However, if there are multiple sets of entities (e.g.  six
cars and three options any of which a car may or may not have), then I list
one set in the top row and the others in subsequent rows.  This approach
allows me to keep the relationship between entities straight.

Below the entities, I draw the master sketch, which depends on the games
action(s).  The top row of my sequencing sketches contains a column for each
position in the sequence, while the bottom row is reserved for filling in
concrete information about specific entities.  For example, in a game that
requires you to schedule the performances of six musicians, I would set up
six columns numbered 1-6, and upon finding out the placement of a musician,
place him/her directly below the cell with the approapriate number.  For
matching and distribution games, I use the same type of sketch.  The columns
contain the fixed entities/groups, whereas rows contain the variable
entities.  Finally, selection games are the easiest to set up using Excel.
All you need is a "in" and an "out" column, and then you can place entities
in the appropriate one.  Personally, I almost always use two rows for each
master sketch, as this enables me to organize the information effectively
while, at the same time, keeping my diagram clean.  The only exception is
matching games consisting of three sets of entities.

Below the master sketch, I list the game's rules in 1 row with each rule in
a separate column.  If a rule contains formal logic (if x, then y), then I
list the contrapositive directly below the rule from which it is derived.
Below the rules, I note any important deductions that I was able to make,
also in a single row, with each deduction in a separate column.  If
possible, I align each deduction with the rule(s) from which it comes, but
this isn't that important.  The number of available deductions depends on
the number and nature  of rules that govern specific entities, as well as
limitations that restrict the game as a whole, so there won't always be any
deductions.  In that case, one should proceed straight to the questions.

Lastly, I utilize the remaining rows for scratchwork pertaining to
individual questions.  When answering logic games questions that introduce
new conditions, such as "If X performs third, which of the following must be
true?", you should never build such conditions into your master sketch
because they apply only to that question, not to the game as a whole.
Consequently, if you were to adjust your master sketch, you would have to
erase your work once you answered the question, which could lead to
potentially costly careless errors.  Instead, the best way to proceed is to
redraw the sketch for each new rule.

Hybrid games are obviously more complex, since they require keeping track of
multiple actions.  Despite Excel's limitations, though, it is still possible
to incorporate multiple actions into a single sketch.  The key to this is
identifying the order in which actions must be performed.  Unfortunately, I
am unable to explain this in greater detail without alluding extensively to
specific examples, but hybrid sketches seem to be most effective when built
around the primary action.

I hope that the above information will be helpful.  I realize that all of
these suggestions may sound overwhelming, so please feel free to follow up
with any questions.  Also, to answer your questions about Kaplan, the
company offers two types of LSAT programs:  private, one-on-one tutoring and
group classes.  Regardless of the option you choose (assuming, of course,
that you will at some point enroll in one of their courses) you can sign up
for an online class or an on site class.  All of this information is
provided, along with pricing, in greater detail on Kaplan's LSAT website
(www.kaplanlsat.com).  You can also call Kaplan customer service at
1-800-527-8378.  Good luck with your legal studies.

Michal

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aimee
Harwood
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 3:05 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Tackling logic games with Excel

I hope you, actually we because I need these answers as well, get some
answers. However, I have posed questions to the group as well as expressed
interest in the answers posed by a couple other new people and have not yet
seen those questions answered.  Hopefully that will change. I would like to
think that of all people, those who are blind or visually impaired and have
already been down this road would be the ones we could hope to get answers
from. If not answers, at least relate to the issues we are having. They are
the best candidates to be our mentors of some sort.

I would also like to ask you Michael for the info regarding Kaplan's LSAT
course.

Aimee
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 25, 2014, at 3:14 PM, Michael Nowicki <mnowicki4 at icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> Dear list members,
> 
> 
> 
> I hope this message finds you all well.  I'm sure many of you have 
> taken the LSAT, and if you have done so recently, you probably 
> remember that it contains one scored logic games section consisting of 
> four games in which the testtaker must sequence, match, distribute, and/or
select entities.
> This section is more challenging than other parts of the test because 
> the key to mastering it lies in drawing a sketch that effectively 
> organizes the players in the game.  Fortunately, LSAC will allow me to 
> use Excel for this task, which, in my opinion, is the best strategy 
> for attacking games.  While working with specific game types, however, 
> I have encountered a major obstacle that I have not been able to overcome
thus far.
> 
> 
> 
> Specifically, I am having trouble setting up hybrid games:  games 
> which include multiple actions.  For example, one type of game asks 
> you to first distribute entities into groups and then to sequence the 
> elements in each group in some way.  The problem that I am facing is 
> that I am unable to incorporate multiple actions into a single sketch, 
> a task sighted people can easily perform, because of the limitations of
Excel spreadsheets.
> Consequently, I have tried to use separate sketches for each action, 
> but this approach is too time-consuming for a tightly-timed 
> standardized test like the LSAT, even with extended time.  Upon 
> realizing this, I reached out to the Kaplan instructor teaching the 
> class in which I am enrolled, but he doesn't have any ideas.  
> Likewise, Kaplan's ADA administrator, the person providing 
> accommodations to Kaplan students, has no suggestions as to how I 
> could adapt the Kaplan method to Excel because as far as he knows, no 
> other Kaplan student was ever granted the use of Excel by LSAC; 
> indeed, this is a very recent phenomenon.  Finally, I contacted local
blindness organizations for assistance, but none of them was able to help.
> 
> 
> 
> That being said, I would be extremely greatful if anyone on this list 
> would be willing to help me overcome this major obstacle.  I know that 
> there are blind people who received high LSAT scores with the help of 
> Excel, so if any of you are on this list, please contact me either on 
> or off list.  Also, if any of you happen to know someone who falls 
> into this category, please put me in touch with that person as soon as 
> possible.  Thank you in advance for your help.
> 
> 
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> 
> 
> Michal Nowicki
> 
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