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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. 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






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






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






4. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






5. Appeal to reason






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






7. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






8. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






10. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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.






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






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






27. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






31. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






32. Information that can be objectively proven as true






33. 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.'






34. 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.






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






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






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






38. 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'






39. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






43. 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?






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






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






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






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






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






49. 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!'






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