LSAT Explanation PT 34, S2, Q20: Professor Chan: The literature department's undergraduate

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following principles most strongly supports Professor Wigmore's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. Professor Chan believes that the literature department's undergraduate courses should cover only true literary works and not advertisements. Professor Wigmore, on the other hand, argues that though advertisements might not be true literary works, they have a detrimental effect on society due to people's inability to discern their real messages. Since the literature department's courses help students develop critical skills to analyze and understand texts, Professor Wigmore concludes that it is the department's responsibility to include the study of advertisements in its undergraduate courses. The conclusion of the argument is that the literature department should include the study of advertisements in its undergraduate courses, and the premises are that advertisements have a detrimental effect on society and that the literature department's courses help students develop critical skills.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Do the critical skills developed in the literature department's courses effectively help students discern the real messages in advertisements?"

Now let's discuss the answer choices for the Principle question, which asks us to identify the principle that most strongly supports Professor Wigmore's argument.

a) This answer choice focuses on how advertisements should be framed, which is not relevant to Wigmore's argument about the literature department's responsibility. It doesn't strengthen the argument.

b) This answer choice discusses whether a text should be considered literature. However, Wigmore's argument doesn't focus on whether advertisements are literature but rather on the department's responsibility to teach students how to analyze them. This choice doesn't strengthen the argument.

c) This answer choice talks about all undergraduate students taking a course that focuses on critical skills development. However, Wigmore's argument is about the literature department's responsibility to include the study of advertisements, not about what students ought to do. This choice doesn't strengthen the argument.

d) This answer choice is correct. It states that the literature department's courses should enable students to analyze and understand any text that could have a harmful effect on society, which directly supports Wigmore's argument about the department's responsibility to include the study of advertisements.

e) This answer choice discusses the freedom of professors to choose course material, which is not relevant to Wigmore's argument about the literature department's responsibility. It doesn't strengthen the argument.

So, the correct answer is D, as it directly supports Professor Wigmore's argument by stating that the literature department's courses should enable students to analyze and understand any text that could have a harmful effect on society, which includes advertisements.