LSAT Passage Structure and Organization

What It Tests

Structure questions ask how the passage is organized -- how paragraphs relate to each other, how the argument is built, or what overall pattern the author follows. These reward readers who track structure while reading.

How to Identify the Question Type

• Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
• The relationship between the first and second paragraphs is...
• Which of the following accurately describes the structure of the passage's argument?

Common LSAT Passage Structures

• Problem then Solution: author identifies a problem and proposes or evaluates a fix
• Theory A vs Theory B: author presents two competing explanations and evaluates them
• Conventional Wisdom then Challenge: author describes what people believe, then challenges it
• Historical Background then Contemporary Application: past context leading to present implications
• Phenomenon then Explanation: something is described and then its causes are analyzed

Building Your Passage Map

After each paragraph, jot a brief function note: 'introduces problem,' 'presents theory A,' 'criticizes theory A,' 'offers alternative,' 'concludes with implications.' The correct answer to a structure question will describe these functions in the right sequence.

Example Problem

Paragraph 1: Describes traditional view of dinosaur extinction. Paragraph 2: Presents asteroid impact theory. Paragraph 3: Discusses evidence supporting impact theory. Paragraph 4: Acknowledges remaining questions but endorses impact theory. Structure: 'The passage presents a traditional view, then introduces and supports an alternative explanation, while acknowledging its limitations.'

Top Tips

• Structure knowledge helps you answer ALL question types faster -- invest in mapping every passage
• The structure of the answer choices mirrors the structure of the passage -- match them sequentially
• Wrong answers often get the sequence of paragraphs wrong or mischaracterize one section's role