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






2. 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






3. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






5. 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.






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






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






8. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






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






13. 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?






14. 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!'






15. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






16. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






25. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






28. Appeal to reason






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






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






31. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






40. 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.'






41. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






44. 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'






45. 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.






46. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






49. 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.






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