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






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






3. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






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






9. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






10. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






13. 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.'






14. 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.






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






16. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






19. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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. Citing an expert on one subject as expert on another






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






23. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






25. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






29. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






31. Appeal to reason






32. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






38. 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?






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






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






41. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






48. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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