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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. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






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






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






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






5. 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?






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






18. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






20. Appeal to reason






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






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






23. 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






24. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






28. 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.






29. 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.






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






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






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






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






34. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






35. 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.'






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






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






38. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






40. 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'






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






42. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






43. 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.






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






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






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






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






48. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






50. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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