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






2. Appeal to reason






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






4. 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.






5. 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.






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






7. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






17. Information that can be objectively proven as true






18. 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!'






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






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






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






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






23. 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






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






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






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






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






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






29. 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.'






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






43. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






44. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






46. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






47. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






50. 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?