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






3. 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






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






5. 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.






6. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






14. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






16. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






18. 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'






19. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






21. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






22. Appeal to the reader's emotions






23. 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?






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






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






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






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






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






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






31. 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.






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






33. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






35. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






37. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. 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.'






47. 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!'






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






49. Appeal to reason






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