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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. Two comparable issues or ideas are judged by different criteria






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






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






4. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






5. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






12. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






15. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






18. 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?






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






20. 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'






21. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






24. 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.






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






26. 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.'






27. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






33. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






36. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. Appeal to the reader's emotions






46. 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.






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






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






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






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