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






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






3. Appeal to reason






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






5. 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!'






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






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






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






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






10. 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.






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






12. 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.






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






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






15. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






25. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






26. 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






27. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






35. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






36. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






37. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






42. Appeal to the reader's emotions






43. 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.






44. 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.'






45. 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?






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






47. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






48. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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