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






2. 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'






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






4. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






7. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






8. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






13. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






16. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






25. 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.






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






27. 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.






28. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






29. Appeal to the reader's emotions






30. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






44. 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?






45. Information that can be objectively proven as true






46. 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.






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






48. Appeal to reason






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






50. 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.'