How to Map an LSAT Reading Comprehension Passage
A light, consistent passage map beats heavy highlighting. Learn what to note — structure, viewpoints, and the main point — so RC questions point you straight to the answer.
2026-06-01 · 7 min read
Why mapping beats highlighting
Highlighting half the passage tells you nothing later. A map is a short mental (or margin) note of what each paragraph does and where the key viewpoints sit. The goal is not to memorize details but to know where to find them when a question asks.
What to track
Structure: what job does each paragraph do — introduce a problem, present a theory, raise an objection, offer the author's view?
Viewpoints: whose opinion is this — the author's, a critic's, a school of thought's? Mark transitions where the voice changes.
Main point and attitude: in one sentence, what is the author arguing, and how do they feel about it?
Putting it to work
Detail questions become lookups: your map tells you which paragraph to revisit. Main-point and attitude questions are answered by the sentence you already wrote. Function questions ("why does the author mention X?") are answered by the paragraph's job, which you already labeled.
Keep the map light — a few words per paragraph. Verbloom's RC practice builds the habit of reading for structure first, details on demand.
Frequently asked questions
Should I annotate on the screen or on scratch paper?
Use whatever is allowed and fast for you. The point is a brief structural note per paragraph plus a one-line main point — not heavy highlighting.
How much should I write?
Very little — a few words per paragraph capturing its function and any viewpoint shift. The map is a navigation aid, not a summary.
Does mapping slow me down?
It adds a little time during reading but saves more during questions, because you stop rereading the whole passage to find details.
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