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






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






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






4. Appeal to reason






5. 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!'






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






7. Appeal to the reader's emotions






8. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






10. 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.






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






12. 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'






13. 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.






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






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






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






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






18. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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?






25. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






26. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






28. 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.






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






30. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






31. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






41. 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.'






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






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






44. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






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






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