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






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






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






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






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






6. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






8. Appeal to reason






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






10. Information that can be objectively proven as true






11. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






12. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






16. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






18. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






22. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






26. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






32. 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.'






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






34. 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?






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






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






37. 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.






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






39. 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.






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






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






42. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






43. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






47. 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






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






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






50. 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.