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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. 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?






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






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






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






5. Appeal to the reader's emotions






6. 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!'






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






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






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






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






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






12. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






13. 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'






14. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






15. 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.






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






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






18. 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.






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






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






21. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






22. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






24. Appeal to reason






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






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






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






28. 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






29. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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






31. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






36. 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.'






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






38. 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.






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






40. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






42. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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.