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






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






3. 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.






4. 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.'






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






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






7. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






8. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






10. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






12. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






18. 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'






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






20. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






29. 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?






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






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






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






33. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






35. 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.






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






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






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






39. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






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






45. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






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






50. 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!'