PT 59, S2, Q12 A theoretical framework facilitates

[aileenann]

This argument is asking us to draw a conclusion. We shouldn’t expect to see a conclusion within the passage, and in choosing a conclusion we should pay particular attention to choose an answer that logically and necessarily follows from the facts they give us.

As I see it, this argument can be laid out as (notes to parentheses are thoughts as I read through this):

"¢ Theoretical framework -> (helps with) research and organization
"¢ Many (not necessarily most) historians think a theoretical framework is the best (this seems like a strong conclusion for them to draw, but maybe they know something I don’t)
"¢ The past is too complex to fit its main trends (what’s a trend in the context of this argument?) within a (single) theory.

Since we have to respect the historians’ opinions, we have to be prepared for the situation not to be ideal. Again, most important, is that our conclusion be based only on the premises above and not any additional assertions.

(A) is way too extreme. The author here merely says that the theoretical framework is not a perfect/flawless framework. This doesn’t mean there is no benefit at all to using it.
(B) is out of scope _ we don’t know anything about other disciplines from this passage.
(C) This seems to work. At the very least, we know that according to many historians this is the best practice but also know it’s not compete. This answer choice perfectly fits within that, without in any way contradicting our premises or relying on anything other than our premises.
(D) This answer choice is a little hard to wrap one’s head around at first, mainly because it seems to be talking about all the things we are interested in. However, once you take a minute to understand this, it becomes clear that this is almost something of a non-statement. To the extent that it’s making any assertion at all (that historians emphasize), it has no basis in the text.
(E) goes against what we know from the text, in that historians says theoretical framework research is the best _ there must be some difference that distinguishes the theoretical framework for these historians.

On easier draw a conclusion questions, once you've really mastered the material and a more abstract way of thinking about LSAT problems, you can often directly recognize the correct answer and maybe (there is always a tiny bit of risk to this) even pick them without reading all the answer choices. But only do this if you are 100% sure you can prove the answer you are about to pick.