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






3. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






5. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






6. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






7. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






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






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






14. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






26. 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.






27. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






29. 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.






30. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






31. 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?






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






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






34. 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!'






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






36. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






49. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






50. 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'