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






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






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






4. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






6. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






11. 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.






12. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






13. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






15. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






16. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






28. 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






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






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






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






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






33. 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?






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






36. 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!'






37. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. 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.






47. 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.'






48. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






50. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent