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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 the writer asserts as being the result of an event






2. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






4. 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.






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






6. Appeal to reason






7. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






12. 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.






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






14. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






16. 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.






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






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






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






20. 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






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






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






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






24. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






25. 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'






26. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






29. 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.'






30. 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?






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






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






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






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






35. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






41. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






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






47. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






49. 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.






50. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data