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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. 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.






2. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






3. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






6. Appeal to reason






7. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






9. 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.






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






11. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






17. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






19. 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.






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






21. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






25. 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.






26. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






38. 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.'






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






48. 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?






49. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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