How to Attack a Causal Conclusion

Stimuli containing causal arguments are often followed by Weaken, Strengthen,
Assumption, or Flaw questions.
Whenever you identify a causal relationship in the conclusion of an LSAT
problem, immediately prepare to either weaken or strengthen the argument.
Attacking a cause and effect relationship in Weaken questions almost always
consists of performing one of the following tasks:
A. Find an alternate cause for the stated effect
Because the author believes there is only one cause, identifying another
cause weakens the conclusion.
B. Show that even when the cause occurs, the effect does not occur
This type of answer often appears in the form of a counterexample.
Because the author believes that the cause always produces the effect,
any scenario where the cause occurs and the effect does not weakens
the conclusion.
C. Show that although the effect occurs, the cause did not occur
This type of answer often appears in the form of a counterexample.
Because the author believes that the effect is always produced by the
same cause, any scenario where the effect occurs and the cause does not
weakens the conclusion.
D. Show that the stated relationship is reversed
Because the author believes that the cause and effect relationship is
correctly stated, showing that the relationship is backwards (the claimed
effect is actually the cause of the claimed cause) undermines the
conclusion.
E. Show that a statistical problem exists with the data used to make the
causal statement
If the data used to make a causal statement is in error, then the validity of
the causal claim is in question.