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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. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






4. 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?






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






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






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






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






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






10. Appeal to the reader's emotions






11. 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.






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






13. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






16. Appeal to reason






17. 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.






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






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






20. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






21. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






22. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






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






27. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. 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.'






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






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






37. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






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






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






43. 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.






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






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






46. 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'






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






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






49. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






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