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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. 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.






2. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






8. Appeal to reason






9. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






13. 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!'






14. 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






15. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






17. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






21. 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.






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






23. 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'






24. Appeal to the reader's emotions






25. 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.






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






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






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






29. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






45. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






49. 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.'






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