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






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






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






4. 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.'






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






6. 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!'






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






9. 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.






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






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






12. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






13. Claiming that one step in the wrong direction will lead to another - potentially disastrous consequence






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






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






16. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






17. 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'






18. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






21. 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.






22. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






24. Information that can be objectively proven as true






25. 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?






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






27. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






28. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






35. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






38. Cause and Effect: A fallacy that assumes that because two variables are correlated (happen at the same time) that one must have caused the other






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






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






41. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






46. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






48. 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.






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






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