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






2. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






6. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






7. 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.






8. Generalization: drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence






9. Reasoning by Proof: the evidence offered does not really support the claim. Non Sequitur (It does not follow)






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






11. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






16. Stating the only two interpretations of actions are alternatives - ignoring any compromise or moderate course






17. 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.






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






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






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






21. 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'






22. Trying to prove one idea with another idea that is too similar to the first idea






23. 'After this therefore because of this' implying that because on event follows another - the first caused the second






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






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






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






27. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






31. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






34. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






35. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






36. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






39. Have all reasonable alternatives been considered/eliminated? Does this author attack the other views in a fair way?






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






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






42. 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.'






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






44. 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?






45. Appeal to reason






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






47. 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!'






48. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






50. Fallacy that asserts that given two positions - there exists a compromise between them which must be correct.