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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. Citing an expert on one subject as expert on another






2. 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






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






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






5. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






7. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






9. Appeal to reason






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






11. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






15. 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!'






16. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






17. 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.






18. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






20. 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.






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






22. 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?






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






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






25. 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.'






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






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






28. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






29. 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.






30. 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'






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






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






33. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






35. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






47. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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