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SAT Essay Logical Fallacies

Subjects : sat, english, writing-skills
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






2. Everybody knows fallacy. Asserts that some idea is common knowledge - so it must be true.






3. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






4. Appeal to the the pity - sympathy or 'misery' of the audience






5. Information that can be objectively proven as true






6. 'it does not follow' drawing a conclusion or making a transition that is not a logical result of the facts






7. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






8. A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented






9. Generalization: Assumes that an individual must have a characteristic because the group to which he or she belongs supposedly has that characteristic






10. Introducing an irrelevant point to divert readers' attention from the main issue being discussed






11. Does the evidence prove the point being argued? Is this authority an expert on this particular topic?






12. Citing an expert on one subject as expert on another






13. Statements that are intentionally vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations






14. When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument. i.e. People choose what laws they obey. The Law of Gravity is a law. I choose to disobey the law of gravity.






15. Cause and Effect: claim than an event with more than one cause has only one cause






16. Writer encourages readers to accept a conclusion without any support






17. Information the writer asserts as being the result of an event






18. Condemning an argument because of where it began - how it began - or who began it






19. 'To the authority' appeal based on the authority of a source






20. Logical reasoning that establishes specific facts or contentions leading to a general conclusion






21. Reasoning by Debate: When a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak. Setting up a straw man diverts attention from the real issues.






22. Appeal to reason






23. The use by a speaker of coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has a different (and negative) meaning for a targeted subgroup of the audience.






24. Reasoning by Debate: A fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist






25. False transitive property - you assume that just because two things share a characteristic - all of their characteristics are shared: - 'penguins are black and white - old tv shows are black and white - therefore penguins are old tv shows'






26. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






27. Reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case






28. Reasoning by Debate: In an argument - this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning 'against the man.'






29. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






30. Drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence; using all instances when only some apply






31. Appeal to the reader's emotions






32. Cause and Effect: Assuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident






33. Prejudging an individual based on ideas one has about the group the individual belongs to






34. Reasoning by Proof: A fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a person or institution.






35. How similar or how different are the cases being compared? How many point of comparison is the arguer using?






36. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue






37. 'To the people' appeal to the prejudices of the audience - or claiming that (or a majority) supports your opinion






38. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






39. Cause and Effect: 'What if' fallacy. Argues that everything would be different if one variable was different. Example: 'If the Nazis had won WWII - we'd all be speaking German!'






40. Ambiguity or multiplicity of interpretations of a repeated word or phrase






41. How large is the sample size? How representative is the sample?






42. Reasoning by Proof: an argument that because someone worked hard at something - their conclusions must be right






43. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






44. 'Against the man' attacking the person or group to which you are opposed rather than addressing the issue






45. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






46. Reasoning by Proof: absence of evidence is not evidence; he didn't say that... so it must be false






47. Is there a reasonable connection between the cause and the effect? Is that connection explained? Are there other possible causes that have not been considered?






48. Generalization: Assumes that members of a group must have a characteristic because one or more of its members has that characteristic.






49. Concealing the author's true intent - belief - or attitude towards an issue






50. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue