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






2. 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






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






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






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






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






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






8. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






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






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






12. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






13. 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.






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






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






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






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






18. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. 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.






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






29. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






31. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






32. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






33. 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.






34. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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






39. 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!'






40. 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.






41. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






43. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






46. Appeal to reason






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






48. 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'






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






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