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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: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






3. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






4. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






5. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






6. 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.






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






8. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






10. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






11. 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.'






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






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






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






15. 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'






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






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






18. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






22. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






26. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






28. 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.






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






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






31. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






37. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






41. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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