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






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






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






4. 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.'






5. 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






6. 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?






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






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






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






10. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






13. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






15. 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.






16. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






28. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






30. 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!'






31. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






32. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






35. 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'






36. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






38. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






44. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






46. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






48. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






50. 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.