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






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






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






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






5. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






6. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






8. Information that can be objectively proven as true






9. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






13. Appeal to reason






14. 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.






15. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






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






21. 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






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






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






24. 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?






25. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






26. 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.






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






28. 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.






29. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






32. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






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






40. 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.'






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






42. 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!'






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






44. 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.






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






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






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






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






49. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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