You read an argument about why a new tax is bad. You get it: the author says the tax will drive away businesses. Simple. Then you look at the answer choices, and they look like this:

(A) challenging a claim by providing a specific counterexample
(B) undermining a proposal by offering an alternative explanation for the problem
(C) attacking a recommendation by pointing out an undesirable consequence
(D) disputing a premise by showing it leads to an internal contradiction

In the moment, all of these feel "negative" and "on-topic." But only one describes the actual logical move. If you do not know the difference between a "counterexample" (a specific exception) and a "consequence" (an effect), or between an "alternative explanation" (a different cause) and an "internal contradiction" (logical incompatibility), you are guessing based on "vibes" rather than specific criteria.

This is the central challenge of Method of Reasoning: you must gain the ability to translate the action of an LSAT stimulus into the abstract language of the correct answer choice.

The solution is to master the major templates that recur in Method of Reasoning questions. When you can reliably describe what most arguments are doing in your own words, you can better handle the unusual ways the LSAT rewords these templates and recognize the less common methods that deviate from the most common forms. This guide categorizes the 15 most common methods by their function.

Part 1: Methods That Support a Conclusion

These are used to build a case for a specific conclusion claim.

Method	Description	Common Answer Phrasing	Simple Example	LSAT Example
Argument by Analogy	Inferring a claim about one case by pointing out its similarity to another case where the corresponding claim is already accepted.	"appealing to an analogy," "drawing a parallel between two distinct cases."	"We should not fund the unproven art installation. But we fund long-term bridges and roads whose benefits are not immediate. Just as infrastructure is an investment in the city's future, so is its cultural landscape."	PT-130-S-1-Q-6
Applying a General Principle	Taking a general rule everyone accepts and applying it to one specific situation: "The rule says X, this case fits the rule, so X must hold here."	"applying a general principle to a specific case," "deriving a conclusion about a particular case from a general rule."	Policy: Sharing confidential client information with outsiders requires immediate termination. Johnson emailed our client list to a competitor last week, so he must be terminated at once under this rule.	PT-117-S-3-Q-8
Eliminating Alternatives	The author lists every possible explanation, rules them out one by one, and concludes that the last option standing must be correct.	"establishing a conclusion by excluding the only plausible alternative," "rejecting possible alternative explanations."	"The car will not start. It is not the battery because the lights turn on. It is not the starter because we just replaced it. Therefore, it must be the alternator."	PT-101-S-2-Q-3
Deriving a Generalization from Evidence	The author uses one or more specific examples to support a broad claim, assuming the pattern in the examples holds true more widely.	"supporting a general principle by means of an example," "deriving a generalization from a specific case."	"The Roman Empire collapsed despite its strength because of internal strain. The Mayan civilization faced a similar decline due to environment and unrest. These examples suggest that no civilization is safe from falling apart when weakened from within."	PT-124-S-3-Q-24

Part 2: Methods That Undermine a Conclusion

These are designed to attack, question, or refute an opposing argument.

Family: Undermining by Comparison

Method	Description	Common Answer Phrasing	Simple Example	LSAT Example
Refutation by Analogy	The author challenges an argument by showing that using the same reasoning elsewhere leads to an obviously bad or absurd conclusion.	"showing that the reasoning leads to an unacceptable conclusion in a parallel case."	Developer: "Restoring the historic downtown is pointless. Time and market forces will level these buildings within a century, so we should not resist what is bound to happen." Citizen: "By that logic, you would ignore your own health because your body will fail someday."	PT-107-S-3-Q-3
Attacking an Analogy	The author pushes back on an analogy by pointing out a key difference between the two cases, showing the comparison does not hold.	"questioning the strength of an analogy," "pointing out a relevant dissimilarity between two cases."	Coach: "You learned to ride a bike by hopping on and figuring it out. Swimming is the same. Just jump into deep water and instinct will take over." Lifeguard: "That is a terrible analogy. Falling off a bike might give you a scraped knee, but deep water can drown you if you cannot swim."	PT-125-S-4-Q-2

Family: Undermining Causal Claims and Proposals

Method	Description	Common Answer Phrasing	Simple Example	LSAT Example
Offering an Alternative Explanation	The author weakens a causal conclusion that X caused Y by proposing a different cause for the same effect.	"offering an alternative explanation for an observed phenomenon," "proposing another cause for an effect."	Researcher: "We found a strong link between daily coffee and high stress, so coffee must be raising stress levels." Colleague: "Or the causality is reversed. People with stressful jobs drink more coffee to cope, so stress is likely driving the coffee habit, not the other way around."	PT-144-S-2-Q-8
Pointing Out a Negative Consequence	The author rejects the plan on the grounds that its harmful side effects and costs would outweigh, or even cancel, any benefits.	"pointing out an undesirable consequence," "arguing a plan will have an effect contrary to its intention."	City Planner: "Let us cut downtown traffic by making public transit free. Free rides will push thousands to leave their cars at home." Economist: "That would backfire. Buses and trains are already full at rush hour. Free fares would pack them to the point of gridlock, slow everything down, and make congestion even worse."	PT-146-S-1-Q-3
Undermining a Causal Link	The author challenges the causal claim by showing the supposed effect still happens when the alleged cause is missing.	"providing evidence that the effect has occurred in the absence of the alleged cause."	Principal: "The new after-school tutoring program is a big success. Students who joined raised their average test scores by ten percent." Analyst: "That does not show the program caused the improvement. Students who did not join also improved by ten percent, so the score gains may have another source."	PT-119-S-2-Q-17

Family: Undermining through Logic and Language

Method	Description	Common Answer Phrasing	Simple Example	LSAT Example
Pointing out a Logical Contradiction	The author challenges the argument by pointing out that its claims clash with each other, or that its guiding principle contradicts itself.	"showing that a set of claims is inconsistent," "demonstrating that a conclusion is self-contradictory."	Speaker: "I am a radical skeptic. I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for anyone to know anything with absolute certainty." Listener: "Then you cannot be sure of that claim either. If certainty is impossible, your statement cannot be certain, so it contradicts itself."	PT-155-S-4-Q-4
Challenging a Key Assumption	The author weakens the argument by spotting an unstated assumption and challenging it, breaking the link between the premises and the conclusion.	"questioning an unstated assumption," "denying a presupposition on which the argument depends."	Robert: "The new recycling program is a failure. A year later, the landfill is taking in even more trash." Sheila: "You are leaving out a key fact. The city's population grew thirty percent this year, so the extra trash is expected and does not show the program failed."	PT-130-S-4-Q-12
Reinterpreting a Key Term	The author challenges an argument by questioning how an essential word or distinction is defined.	"reinterpreting a key term," "challenging a distinction," "showing a concept is being used in two different senses."	Critic: "The city requires all safety grants to be used for reducing traffic accidents. The mayor is violating this by spending the grant on a public awareness campaign about distracted driving instead of on physical road repairs." Mayor: "Research shows that most accidents are caused by driver inattention. By educating drivers, we are directly reducing the number of accidents on our streets."	PT-106-S-1-Q-7

Family: Undermining through Evidence

Method	Description	Common Answer Phrasing	Simple Example	LSAT Example
Using a Counterexample	The author refutes a universal claim ("All X are Y" or "No X are Y") by providing a single, specific instance where the claim is false.	"offering a counterexample to a general claim," "citing a case that is inconsistent with a stated principle."	Professor: "To increase sales, you must lower the price. That rule holds in every market." Student: "Luxury goods show the opposite. Raising the price can raise demand when exclusivity increases desire."	PT-112-S-1-Q-1
Critiquing the Evidence (Sampling/Methodology)	The author attacks a conclusion by showing that the evidence it is based on is unreliable due to a flawed method of collection, such as a biased sample or poorly designed experiment.	"questioning the representativeness of a sample," "pointing out a methodological flaw."	Politician: "My policy is wildly popular. An online poll on my website shows ninety-five percent approval." Journalist: "That poll is self-selected. Visitors to your site are already supporters, so the sample does not represent the wider electorate."	PT-148-S-1-Q-20
Reinterpreting Evidence	The author accepts an opponent's factual evidence but argues that it actually leads to a different, often opposite, conclusion than the one they drew.	"reinterpreting evidence as supporting an opposing view," "offering an alternative interpretation of the evidence."	Manager: "Our turnover is twenty percent, so our employees must be very unhappy." Consultant: "The industry average is thirty-five percent. Since ours is lower, it actually suggests our staff are more satisfied than at competing firms."	PT-112-S-3-Q-24

That is the list. Mastering these patterns will put you ahead on the many questions that reuse these exact methods. And as you improve, you will also get better at distinguishing these from the occasional answer choice that genuinely introduces an unusual method.

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