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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. Appeal to reason






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






4. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






5. 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.






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






7. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






9. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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'






17. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






19. 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.'






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






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






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






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






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






25. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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. Generalization: drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence






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: 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.






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






39. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






40. 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!'






41. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






43. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






47. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






49. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






50. 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.