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






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






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






4. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






5. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






11. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






21. 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






22. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






27. 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!'






28. 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'






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






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






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






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






33. 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.






34. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






37. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






43. 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.






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






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






46. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






49. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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