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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: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






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






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






5. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






6. Appeal to reason






7. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






10. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






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






17. 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.'






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






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






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






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






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






23. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






29. 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.






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






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






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






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






34. 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






35. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






37. 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.






38. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






41. 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!'






42. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






43. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






46. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






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






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







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Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


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