Conclusion
LSAT glossary · Logical Reasoning
Definition
The claim an argument tries to establish — the point the author wants the reader to accept, supported by the premises. The conclusion is identified by the "Because" Test (it sounds natural when "because" is inserted before the supporting premises) and by indicator words such as "therefore," "thus," "hence," and "so." On the LSAT, the conclusion is the claim that "needs help" — the one the author cannot simply assert without offering reasons.
Conclusion in plain English
The conclusion is the whole point of an argument — the one claim the author is trying to get you to accept, with everything else there to prop it up. An easy trick to find it is the 'because' test: the conclusion is the part that sounds natural when you stick 'because' in front of the reasons ('We should leave now, BECAUSE traffic is building' — 'we should leave now' is the conclusion). Words like 'therefore,' 'thus,' 'hence,' and 'so' often point right at it. Think of the conclusion as the claim that 'needs help': it can't just stand there on its own, so the author has to give reasons to back it up.
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