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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. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






3. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






4. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






5. 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'






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






20. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






24. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






26. 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?






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






35. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






36. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. 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.






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






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






49. Information that can be objectively proven as true






50. 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.