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






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






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






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






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






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






7. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






8. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






20. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






21. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






22. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






28. 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.'






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






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






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






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






33. 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!'






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






35. 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.






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






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






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






39. 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






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






41. 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?






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






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






44. Appeal to reason






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






46. 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.






47. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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