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






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






3. 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'






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






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






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






7. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






8. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






11. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






13. 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?






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






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






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






17. 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.






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






19. 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






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






21. Appeal to reason






22. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






23. 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.'






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






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






26. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






27. 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!'






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






36. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






39. 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.






40. 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.






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






42. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






47. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






49. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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