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






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






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






4. 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






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






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






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






8. 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.






9. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






10. 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.






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






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






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






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






15. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






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






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






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






20. 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!'






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






28. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






29. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






33. 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.'






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






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






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






37. 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?






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






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






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






41. 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'






42. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






43. Appeal to reason






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






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






46. 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.






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






48. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






49. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






50. Appeal to the reader's emotions