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






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






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






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






5. Information that can be objectively proven as true






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






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






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






9. Appeal based on the credibility of the author






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






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






12. 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?






13. Information gained from personal experience representing a general pattern






14. 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'






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






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






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






19. Analogy or comparison that is not logically consistent






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






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






22. Obscuring or denying the complexity of an issue






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






24. Appeal to the reader's emotions






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






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






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






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






29. Common knowledge or beliefs readers accept as true






30. Information that is an interpretation of numerical data






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






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






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






34. 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.






35. Generalization: an argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence






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






37. Information based on personal interpretation of facts






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. 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.






45. Appeal to reason






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






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






48. 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






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






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